The Latest Breaking News from Rachel Reeves

There are nearly 5.5 million businesses in the UK. It may come as a surprise, however, to learn that most of these (about 4.1 million) are not employers. They might be, for example, the sole traders we call to fix our leaky roof or the freelance workers providing support to…

Shares in UK retailers fall as investors digest Rachel Reeves’s changes to NICs and tax thresholds

Here are the stories making headlines to round out the working week.

Health and children’s groups urge UK ministers to impose levies on products containing too much salt or sugar

But experts forecast Rachel Reeves’s first Budget will drive up inflation over next two years

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ increase in National Insurance on employers may push up prices, cut jobs and squeeze pay rises, says the governor of the Bank of England.

Andrew Bailey said it would ‘help us to observe’ how the tax measures would play out for the economy.

Round up of fact checks from the last week compiled by Full Fact.

Narratives matter in economics, and we must acknowledge the circumstances the government faces and give credit where due, says economist Mohamed A El-Erian