Business & Economy

Published: 22 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. British retailers faced a challenging Christmas period as sales growth slowed significantly. Christmas trading for B&M and The Works highlighted a tough festive season, with profits falling and operational issues affecting results. In the first 100 words, the focus keyword “Christmas trading” has already been naturally included, reflecting its central importance for UK retail. B&M, the UK discount...

Published: 22 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK government borrowing fell sharply in December, marking a notable improvement compared with last year. Public sector net borrowing, which measures the gap between government spending and income, reached £11.6bn last month, considerably lower than the £18.7bn recorded in December 2024. Analysts had anticipated borrowing of approximately £13bn, highlighting that the government managed to outperform expectations due...

Published: 21 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Next has completed the buyout of Russell & Bromley, securing the brand’s future amid financial struggles. The footwear rescue deal, valued at £3.8 million, ensures the continuation of Russell & Bromley’s heritage, although approximately 400 jobs are expected to be lost in stores outside the deal. Founded in 1879 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, Russell & Bromley operates 36...

Published: 21 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Keir Starmer is reportedly preparing for a UK-China visit next week, aiming to strengthen economic ties between British companies and Chinese institutions. This UK-China visit comes after his government approved Beijing’s plan to build a new embassy in London, signaling a renewed commitment to trade and diplomacy. Leading a delegation of top UK firms, including BP, HSBC, Jaguar...

Published: 21 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The US supreme court will hear arguments over the Trump Fed bid, testing the president’s authority to remove a sitting Federal Reserve governor. The case involves Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Lisa Cook, citing alleged discrepancies in mortgage applications, which his administration claims demonstrate misconduct. Legal experts warn that the outcome of this Trump Fed bid could redefine...

Published: 21 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. UK inflation rose to 3.4% in December, marking the first increase in five months, signaling caution for policymakers. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the consumer prices index (CPI) recorded this upward shift, slightly exceeding economists’ forecast of 3.3%. The rise in inflation reflects seasonal factors such as holiday airfares, which jumped compared to a low...

Published: 21 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Global financial markets endured a sharp jolt on Tuesday as the Trump tariff shock rippled through investor confidence worldwide. Within the first hours of trading, anxiety spread quickly, driven by renewed tariff threats and escalating rhetoric surrounding Greenland. Traders reacted nervously, fearing that political posturing could spill into damaging economic confrontation. The resulting sell-off marked Wall Street’s worst...

Published: 20 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The controversy surrounding City & Guilds pay has intensified following revelations about executive rewards. Within weeks of a major restructuring, senior leaders received substantial increases. These decisions emerged as the organisation pursued a £22m cost-cutting programme affecting hundreds of jobs. The situation has drawn scrutiny from regulators, unions, and education leaders across the United Kingdom. City & Guilds...

Published: 20 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK labour market has seen job numbers fall once again, as wage growth slows to a five-year low. Payroll figures revealed a decline of 184,000 employees over the past year, dropping the total to 30.2 million, while private sector wage growth weakened considerably. The latest report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that sectors such...

Published: 20 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced plans to refund visa fees to attract trailblazer businesses to the UK. The initiative, unveiled ahead of her visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, is aimed at positioning the UK as a stable and investor-friendly destination. Reeves highlighted that these “trailblazer” incentives will allow global firms to bring highly skilled staff more...