The big picture
Why economic growth doesn’t always feel like progress
An expanding economy and a stretched household budget can coexist. The key is understanding what the headline measures.
The reading room
Understand a little more.
Clear explanations of the ideas shaping the UK economy. These are evergreen guides, not a live news feed.
9 articles
Prices & households
Falling inflation does not mean a cheaper weekly shop
How to separate the speed of price increases from the level of prices you actually pay.
Interest rates
Why a rate decision takes time to reach your household
Bank Rate influences borrowing, saving and spending through several routes—and they do not all move together.
Work & wages
Four questions to ask about a wage-growth headline
Bonuses, inflation and averages can change what an earnings figure really tells you.
Business & productivity
Productivity is about more than working harder
Why equipment, organisation and measurement matter when discussing output per hour.
Trade & industry
Britain’s trade story goes beyond shipping containers
Goods, services and the meaning of a trade balance—without treating one number as a national scorecard.
Public finances
Debt and the deficit: two numbers, two different questions
A clear guide to annual borrowing, accumulated debt and comparisons with the size of the economy.
Reading the data
Why economic figures change after their first release
Revisions are part of building a fuller statistical picture. Here is how to read them calmly and consistently.
The local economy
Behind a high-street price tag: the costs customers do not see
Why a busy shop can still face pressure, and why one cheaper input may not bring an immediate price cut.
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