Energy price cap set to jump as consumers brace for soaring bills March 31, 2026 The Ofgem energy price cap is expected to leap by 18 per cent after June as households brace for the impact of spiralling oil and gas prices. Energy consultancy firm Cornwall Insight has forecast the average annual energy bill to be set by the regulator Ofgem at £1,929 in July. It would represent a £288 [...]
Britain’s most AI-exposed sectors foot biggest tax bill March 31, 2026 The UK sectors most exposed to artificial AI are concentrated in the same parts of the economy that generate the bulk of tax revenues, according to government and industry data. A 2026 assessment from the UK government shows AI is most applicable to tasks involving data processing, analysis and routine cognitive work, activities concentrated in [...]
More harm than good? Minimum wage hikes kick in from April March 31, 2026 With April approaching plenty of conversations have focused on the end of the tax year, with people scrambling to utilise their ISA allowances, but the month also brings about a pay rise for millions of Brits – and increased costs for employers. The national minimum wage will increase from 1 April, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves [...]
Charging for museums will erode Britain’s soft power March 31, 2026 Ending free museum access would see some of Britain's most coveted institutions fade to irrelevance, writes Benji Wiedemann.
Blackrock mulls a move to HSBC’s Canary Wharf tower March 31, 2026 Blackrock is mulling a move to HSBC’s Canary Wharf skyscraper with the site one of a number of locations viewed by the firm as it scouts for a new London headquarters. The world’s largest asset manager has taken a look at the 8 Canada Square tower, which HSBC is set to vacate next year. But [...]
Princes Group signals price hikes as Middle East conflict piles pressure on costs March 31, 2026 Tinned tuna giant Princes has signalled a potential hike in prices, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to pile pressure on business costs. The Liverpool-based owner of Branston and Flora, noted that it could raise prices where needed to offset cost pressures from rising fuel, transport and plastic packaging costs caused by the [...]
Lloyds and Close Brothers shares rally as banks ‘assess’ impact of motor finance redress March 31, 2026 Shares in UK motor finance lenders had a volatile opening this morning as markets digested the final rules of the financial watchdog’s industry-wide redress scheme. Lloyds Banking Group – the owner of the nation’s largest motor finance lender Black Horse – crept up over one per cent in early trading to tip over the 92p [...]
Fuel crisis grounds thousands of flights as Iran war sends oil prices soaring March 31, 2026 Thousands of flights have been cancelled, and more are planned, as global airlines struggle with surging fuel costs in the wake of the war in Iran. According to data by aviation analytics company Cirium, more than one in 20 flights scheduled to take off on Monday were cancelled. Jet fuel, which is generally more expensive [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks inch up; Fuel shortage fears hit airlines; Unilever nears food deal March 31, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Oil prices are on track for its biggest monthly gain on record for March following the outbreak of war in Iran. It comes as the war in Iran continues to cause ripples through the market, with Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices [...]
As KPMG looks to cut hundreds of staff, expect more layoffs at the Big Four March 31, 2026 The Big Four giants, after hitting pandemic-era highs, are currently navigating a perfect storm of challenges: a harsher market, a surge in AI investment and a stagnant economy. These pressures are forcing firms to take a pair of shears to their workforces as the industry’s traditional “attrition model” fails to keep pace with reality. Over [...]