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English Buyers Skip Historic Highland Lamb Sale as Drought Bites Pastures

Fewer English buyers attended the Lairg lamb sale in Sutherland this year after drought dried up pastures south of the border, though prices for the roughly 8,600 lambs sold still rose on last year.

5 min read

Sheep being herded down a corridor between pens with metal gates at Lairg lamb sales.

CMA Launches Drip-Pricing Probe into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School

The CMA is investigating Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School over alleged drip pricing, using new enforcement powers for the first time.

4 min read

A young woman sitting at her laptop while holding a credit card

UK Inflation Climbs to 2.9% in July as Energy Bills Bite

UK inflation rose to 2.9% in the year to July 2026, up from 2.6% in June, as Ofgem's 13% energy price cap increase added £221 a year to typical household bills, according to the ONS.

3 min read

A woman looks at a receipt for her groceries. In her other hand she is holding a paper bag with two baguettes sticking out of the top

Trump Delays New 50% Canada Tariffs by Three Days as Deal Nears

Donald Trump paused a threatened 50% tariff on Canadian goods for three days on 18 August 2026, citing progress toward a trade deal that could also revive the Keystone XL pipeline.

5 min read

Trump Delays New 50% Canada Tariffs by Three Days as Deal Nears

Unitree Shares Surge Over 600% in Shanghai Trading Debut

Unitree Robotics' shares jumped more than 600% on their Shanghai Star Market debut on 19 August 2026, a milestone for China's humanoid robotics push amid rivalry with the US.

8 min read

A Unitree G1 humanoid robot is on display at a convention in Beijing.

UK Shoppers Shift to Mobile Payments as Cash Decline Slows, Report Finds

Two-thirds of UK adults now use mobile payment services, UK Finance data shows, while cash use continues to fall but at a slower pace than expected, with cash forecast to make up just 4% of payments by 2035.

5 min read

Woman sitting in a cafe with a coffee cup on the table in front of her puts her phone on a payment terminal held by a waitress.

Historic Tonypandy Police Station, Site of 1910 Riots Arrests, Goes Up for Auction

A Victorian police station in Tonypandy, linked to the 1910 riots and still containing its original cells, went up for auction — though the sale was later withdrawn amid conflicting price and date details.

5 min read

The exterior of the police station - a brick building with a slate roof and windows with white window frames.

Global Borrowing Costs Climb to Multi-Decade Highs as Inflation and Oil Fears Mount

Long-term borrowing costs in the US, UK, Germany and Japan hit multi-decade highs this week as oil prices surged past $90 a barrel amid Middle East tensions and AI investment concerns.

6 min read

A person pays with a credit card in a restaurant

Carney Faces Final Hours to Clinch US Trade Deal Before Tariff Deadline

With a US tariff deadline looming on 19 August 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney faces intense final negotiations in Washington, as new reporting shows both sides remain far apart on key demands over autos, dairy and alcohol.

6 min read

Wool Prices Surge to Decade High as Demand Rebounds Across Britain

British wool prices have surged more than 70% in a year to a decade-high level, as shrinking flocks and fading Covid-era stockpiles fuel fresh global demand for the versatile fibre.

6 min read

Global Bond Yields Hit Multi-Decade Highs as US-Iran Ceasefire Falters

Bond yields in the US, UK, Japan, Germany and France hit multi-decade highs on 18 August 2026 as the US-Iran ceasefire lapsed and oil prices topped $90 a barrel.

5 min read

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange

UK Wage Growth Cools and Vacancies Hit Five-Year Low as Iran War Fuels Cost Squeeze

UK wage growth slowed to 4.1% and vacancies fell to a five-year low of 707,000 in the three months to June, as unemployment held at 4.9% amid fallout from the Iran conflict and rising living costs.

6 min read