Government Intervention
10 articles tagged with this topic.
Minimum wage rises to £12.71 an hour as firms warn of impact
The UK National Living Wage for over-21s has risen by 50p to £12.71 per hour, with about 2.7 million workers set to benefit. Rates for 18–20-year-olds rise to £10.85 and for under-18s and apprentices to £8. Businesses warn higher wage bills, alongside other cost pressures, may force price rises, staff cuts or closures, while the Low Pay Commission says past rises have not significantly hurt jobs.
Ministers look at slowing plan to increase minimum wage for younger UK workers
UK ministers are considering slowing the timetable to equalise the minimum wage for younger workers after youth unemployment rose to 16.1% — the highest in more than a decade and now above the EU average. Retail and hospitality employers say faster rises plus higher employer National Insurance contributions are deterring hiring, but PM Keir Starmer insists the manifesto commitment stands and the April uplift will proceed: the 18–20 rate will rise by 85p to £10.85, while the 21+ rate will rise by 50p to £12.71.
Dramatic fall in London’s levels of deadly pollutants after Ulez expansion
A Greater London Authority report finds London’s air pollution has fallen markedly since the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was expanded to all boroughs in August 2023. Roadside NO2 is down 27% across London since 2019, PM2.5 in outer London is 31% lower than without the 2023 expansion, 99% of monitoring sites show improvement, and 97% of vehicles are now compliant, with notable benefits in deprived areas and reductions in CO2.
Why did the government take control of British Steel?
The UK government took emergency control of British Steel's Scunthorpe plant to prevent its closure and secured a £500m deal for train tracks with Network Rail. This intervention occurred after current owners, Jingye (China), threatened to cease operations due to annual losses and "challenging market conditions," posing a risk to UK economic security as the plant is the last to produce virgin steel. The government is attempting to find a long-term private sector partner.
Eight firms under investigation over online pricing
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched investigations into eight companies, including StubHub, Viagogo, AA Driving School, and Wayfair, over potentially misleading online pricing practices such as "drip pricing" and misleading time-limited sales. This is the first action taken under new consumer protection powers, allowing the CMA to issue fines up to 10% of global turnover and order compensation without court proceedings.
Trump tariff fallout: Some industries grapple with lingering effects one year later
One year after new tariffs were imposed by the Trump administration, US companies in sectors such as retail, automotive, and consumer packaged goods are still adapting to the increased costs and supply chain disruptions. Many have diversified supply chains or absorbed costs, while some like the pharmaceutical industry secured exemptions by agreeing to lower drug prices and invest in US manufacturing. The effective US tariff rate remains almost double pre-tariff levels.
UK food inflation seen nearing 10% by December 2026 due to Iran war disruption, FDF warns
Britain’s Food and Drink Federation now expects food and non‑alcoholic drink inflation to reach around 9–10% by December 2026, up sharply from a prior 3.2% forecast, because the Iran war has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up oil, gas and fertiliser costs. The energy‑intensive food industry faces higher input prices; larger firms with hedges may see delayed impacts while many SMEs on spot markets face immediate spikes, with farmers warning of near‑term rises for greenhouse‑grown produce. UK grocery inflation ran at 4.3% in the four weeks to March 22, while higher fuel prices show the first clear impact on households.
Four things you need to know about UK-India trade deal
The UK and India have signed a free trade agreement (FTA) aiming to boost bilateral trade by reducing tariffs on various goods and services. The deal is expected to make imports cheaper in the UK and open up the Indian market for British exporters, particularly in sectors like whisky, cars, and medical devices. The agreement also includes provisions for British firms to compete for service contracts in India and a three-year exemption on social security payments for Indian employees working in the UK on short-term visas.
See the Trump tariffs list by country
The US has implemented new tariffs on imports from over 90 countries under President Trump. The tariffs involve taxes on foreign goods entering the US, with experts suggesting these costs may be passed on to consumers. Brazil and India face particularly high rates of 50%, while negotiations are ongoing with China and Mexico to delay further increases or maintain current rates.
A small US grocer is calling out the lower prices at big chains
An independent grocer in Brooklyn says large US supermarket chains get preferential wholesale prices from manufacturers, allowing them to sell items at or near the price independents pay. The case has reignited debate over supplier price discrimination and the revived use of the Robinson-Patman Act, with recent lawsuits testing whether enforcing it would protect small retailers or harm consumers. Advocates call for stricter enforcement and pricing transparency, while critics suggest easing taxes and regulation for small firms or using existing antitrust rules instead.