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Oil nears $95 as US-Iran tensions rise; UK inflation cools

Oil rose as US-Iran tensions escalated, while UK data showed London house prices falling for a ninth straight month. AMD, Prologis, OpenAI and Bloomsbury also made headlines.

7 min read

Vehicles refuel at a petrol station in London, Britain, 02 April 2026

Bus fare cap could save wool shop owner £500 a year

Sarah Bodger says a new bus fare cap in England will save her £500 a year as she makes a four-hour daily commute by bus to run her wool shop.

4 min read

Selfie of Sarah Bodger smiling, wearing a blue headband, glasses, a necklace and a blue top.

UK interest rates: what they mean for mortgages and savings

The Bank of England has held rates at 3.75% four times. This explainer looks at inflation, mortgages, savings and what the Iran conflict could mean for future cuts.

6 min read

A woman uses a cash machine on the street on a sunny spring day. She holds a credit card in her hand and is pressing buttons on the machine with her other hand.

UK inflation falls to 2.6% as price pressures may rise again

UK inflation fell to 2.6% in June, below forecast but still above the Bank of England's target, as fuel and food prices eased temporarily before expected rises.

7 min read

Two women look at the price of cheese in a supermarket chilled dairy aisle.

Belfast city centre decline puts businesses at risk, owner warns

Richard Evans says Belfast city centre has reached a tipping point after his coffee shop was broken into and vandalised, warning of rising drug-related activity, rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour.

5 min read

The broken window of a coffee shop. Inside, there is broken glass on the floor. There are a number of potted plants by the window, one of which has been knocked over.

Norway’s Equinor profit nearly doubles to $11.5bn as oil prices surge

Equinor’s profits nearly doubled to $11.5bn in the second quarter as higher oil and gas prices, driven by conflict-related supply concerns, boosted results.

3 min read

Large blue storage tanks and illuminated industrial pipework at Equinor's LNG facility in Norway

UK inflation slows to 2.6% as fuel prices fall

UK inflation slowed to 2.6% in the year to June, down from 2.8% in May, as lower fuel prices and falling food costs eased pressure.

1 min read

A woman holding her infant son on her lap while reading bills at her desk.

Trump tariffs could cut NI exports to US by 15%, study finds

New research says Trump’s tariffs could cut Northern Ireland’s expected US export growth by 15%, with pharmaceuticals hit hardest.

3 min read

President Trump, a man with grey hair, wearing a white shirt, blue tie and navy blue jacket

7.4m households struggle to afford essentials, JRF says

JRF says 7.4 million households struggled to afford essentials in the past six months, as families cut meals and heating to save money.

6 min read

Picture of older woman sitting in chair and facing the camera. She is wearing a red shirt and glasses.

Burnham tells cabinet to tackle living costs at first meeting

Andy Burnham pledged a focus on living costs at his first cabinet meeting, announcing a VAT cut on household energy bills and a new Manchester-based Downing Street unit.

4 min read

Andy Burnham speaking at the first meeting of his new cabinet in Downing Street

Novo Nordisk sues Eli Lilly over weight-loss drug ads

Novo Nordisk has sued Eli Lilly in the US, accusing it of false advertising in weight-loss drug ads and seeking to stop the campaigns.

3 min read

A person injects weight-loss drug Ozempic

B&M fined £2m after Birmingham food hygiene failings

B&M Retail Ltd has been fined £2m after serious food hygiene offences at three Birmingham stores, including mouse infestations and gnawed food products.

2 min read