‘Tax break tart’: hospitality tipped to exploit summer VAT cut on children’s meals
As bosses ridicule the chancellor’s scheme, one venue is offering a £25 ‘kids’ menu of snails and anchovy butter toast
Regulation
What is happening to UK prices?
Inflation in the UK was 2.8% in the year to May, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics.
Capital gains tax: more people have to pay, so here’s what you need to know
The rules have changed and more taxpayers are being pulled into the net, not only the wealthy
Is it bad that Elon Musk has a trillion dollars? Yes, and here’s why
Just as the ‘poverty line’ determines what’s required for basic living, we need a ‘wealth line’ to show when extreme wealth becomes harmful
UK social media ban ‘likely to cause £1.3bn drop’ in digital advertising spend
Brands are expected to cut more than £1bn of digital advertising spending due to the UK’s ban on social media for under-16s, with streaming services tipped to benefit as advertisers try to reach large audiences of teena…
UK inflation unexpectedly stays at 2.8% with higher transport costs offset by slower food price rises – business live
Food prices rose at the slowest rate since December 2024 with declines in inflation for meat, cheese, vegetables and cheese
UK inflation stays steady at 2.8% despite Iran conflict driving up fuel prices
UK inflation unexpectedly remained at 2.8% last month as higher transport and fuel costs were offset by slower food price rises, official figures have shown.
John Lewis injects £20m into Glasgow city centre store in wider branch reboot
Upgrade to Buchanan Galleries part of £50m spend this year and £800m by 2029 to revive appeal of department stores
SpaceX to buy AI coding firm Anysphere for $60bn and passes Amazon valuation
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is buying the startup behind the AI-powered coding app Cursor for $60bn (£44bn) and has moved ahead of Amazon in valuation days after its stock market debut.
The tide is turning on Thames Water: special administration looks best | Nils Pratley
At last, Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, has opined on the future of Thames Water. So what’s it to be? A takeover by the company’s creditors? Special administration, which would allow anyone to pitch up with a…
Struggling Pizza Hut restaurant chain to be sold in two deals worth $2.7bn
The struggling Pizza Hut restaurant chain will be sold for $2.7bn by parent company Yum Brands.
Fujitsu chair resigns after ‘woman-related inappropriate conduct’
The chair of Fujitsu, the Japanese technology firm at the centre of the Post Office IT scandal, has resigned after its board became aware of his “woman-related inappropriate conduct”.
European parliament finally approves Trump tariff deal
The European parliament has given its final approval to implement last July’s tariff agreement with Donald Trump.
How the Iran war affects your money and bills
From petrol prices to mortgage rates, the US-Israel war with Iran has already had an impact on people's finances in the UK.
Retail giants join UK government drive to boost ‘plug-in’ balcony solar panels
Bosses of some of Britain’s biggest retailers are discussing plans with the government to start selling plug-in solar panels as part of a drive to encourage more UK homes to generate their own electricity.
The old ‘warfare v welfare’ arguments are back – but it’s Britain’s real duty to spend on both | Frances Ryan
While we need protecting from foreign enemies, slashing benefits in favour of defence will make millions less, not more, safe
Starbucks Korea to temporarily shut all stores for history lesson after bungled coffee promotion
The closures, so employees can watch a recorded lecture, will cost the company an estimated 2.1bn won ($1.4m) in sales
EV prices in UK and EU not likely to dive due to Chinese rivalry, says Xpeng boss
Brian Gu says he sees Chinese car firms competing on quality rather than launching price war as at home
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax isn’t far off Labour’s housing policy. Not that you’ll ever hear Starmer say it | Anna Minton
In April, to mark the day on which Americans are expected to file their taxes, the New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, filmed himself on Billionaires’ Row , an enclave of super-tall apartment buildings just south of Central…
Japan hikes interest rates to highest since 1995 to fight inflation from Iran war; Thames Water rescue in doubt – business live
Thames Water has moved a step closer to nationalisation after government ministers reportedly formally objected to the £10bn rescue deal proposed by its creditors.
UK ministers lobby Trump to avert backlash against social media ban
Ministers have embarked on a concerted lobbying operation to prevent a backlash from the Trump administration to the under-16s social media ban announced by Keir Starmer.
Starmer vows new sanctions on Russia and nuclear energy support for Ukraine
G7 told ‘we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes’, with Russia’s finance networks and shadow fleet targeted
The Guardian view on regulating big tech: the UK’s new, tougher approach to child safety is overdue
There is a long way to go before children under 16 in the UK are blocked from the main social media platforms – as Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday that they will be. He proposed a date of next spring, although whet…
Keir Starmer promised me he would end the harm caused by social media. But this ban betrays that promise | Ian Russell
Ian Russell is an internet safety campaigner and chair of the Molly Rose Foundation