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The 'trillion pound' oil fund the government believes Britain could have built
For the first time, the Treasury calculates how much the UK could have raised by investing North Sea proceeds.
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Faisal Islam: Inflation and borrowing figures illustrate chancellor's Budget challenge
The economic figures released on Wednesday show the constraints for John Healey as he puts the finishing touches to his Budget.
Business
Hollywood AI-listers: is the technology ready to rival flesh-and-blood film stars?
<p>As a freaky Val Kilmer doppelganger stars in a new western and faux starlet Tilly Norwood is set for her feature debut, experts are split on whether mainstream adoption is a long way down the line – or just around the corner</p><p>‘Don’t fear the dead – …
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Inflation and government borrowing highest for a year ahead of next week's Budget
Inflation accelerated to 3.5% from 3.1% in the year to September, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Business
HelloFresh workers claim physical abuse and denied bathroom breaks in class-action suit
<p>The meal kit delivery service denies the allegations, saying it found claims to be ‘entirely without merit’</p><p>Workers at a HelloFresh facility in Newark, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/new-jersey">New Jersey</a>, have claimed in court d…
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Burnham proposes plan to cut standing charges from gas bills
The prime minister provided little detail, and there are questions over shifting the fees onto unit costs.
Business
Christiane Amanpour announces she’s leaving CNN after 43 years
<p>Anchor’s departure not thought to be linked to company’s recent acquisition by David Ellison’s Skydance Media</p><p>Christiane Amanpour, one of CNN’s most decorated and venerated journalists, is leaving the network after 43 years, she said in a statement…
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Just Eat apologises for AI food mistakes after social media ridicule
A spokesperson said it was removing inaccurate AI images and pausing the rollout of the tool.
Business
Bad news for Trump ahead of the midterms: it’s still the economy, stupid
<p>Voters’ opposition to the state of Trump’s economy is well established – despite his desperate attempts to deflect</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/15/what-is-your-personal-recession-indicator">Tell us: what is your pe…
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What is the Budget and what could be in it?
Chancellor John Healey will set out his plans for UK taxes on 28 October.
Business
Gen Z wrestle with shame from ordering delivery food: ‘This economy is not for the weak’
<p>As Americans use apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats more habitually, they confront the guilt of paying extra fees for convenience</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/15/what-is-your-personal-recession-indicator">Tell us: wh…
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Civil servant admits he 'made mistakes' juggling five government jobs
Kashim Chowdhury was contracted for 183 hours a week, more than the number of hours in seven days.
Business
Is punishing the poor Trump’s last hand to play?
<p>The pre-midterm defenestration of ACA enrollees looks like political madness – but the president appears to believe hitting poor people might work for him</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/community/live/2026/oct/14/us-economy-affordabil…
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What is happening to UK prices?
UK inflation rose in September, pushed up by higher petrol and diesel prices.
Business
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani launches India’s biggest-ever IPO
<p>Low-cost broadband provider Jio Platforms aims for £81bn valuation when it floats on the stock market on Wednesday</p><p>India’s second-richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is launching what could be the country’s biggest-ever initial public offering (IPO), despi…
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Elon Musk confirms he is considering merging Tesla and SpaceX
Musk says special committees within both companies have been formed to look at a possible mega-merger.
Business
France hit by debt sell-off as violent protests unnerve investors
<p>Difference between French and German borrowing costs widens after public buildings burned and shops looted</p><p>France has been hit by a fresh wave of selling in its bond and stock markets after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/fre…
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Google resolves cloud outage affecting UK banks and websites
Revolut was one of the hardest hit, with banking services going down for many customers.
Business
OpenAI’s London staff receive average of £2.3m per person annually
<p>Accounts for the Westminster-based company behind ChatGPT show that 110 staff shared £87m in salaries and £168m in shares last year</p><p>OpenAI’s London staff each received £2,318,181 on average last year, as the ChatGPT-maker poured Premier League foot…
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Trump sued over Canadian tariffs in latest legal challenge
The lawsuit argues the White House exceeded its authority in imposing the latest tariffs on the country and caused "immediate harm to American businesses".
Business
EU to limit Chinese hybrid vehicle imports to 350,000 a year
<p>Brussels uses WTO rules to quickly impose quota, which will halve Chinese market share to 3%</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/oct/12/uk-growth-inflation-pressures-oil-price-sveriges-riksbank-nobel-prize-economic-scien…
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Audit regulator looking into Manchester City accounting
No formal investigation has started, but the regulator is making inquiries into the case.
Business
When her ‘soul cat’ died, she was bereft. Now she designs memorial jewelry to help others with pet loss
<p>A layoff and a leap of faith convinced Katie Teixeira she had what it takes to run her own business</p><p>In 2010, Katie Teixeira adopted a kitten found all alone in an abandoned house. The kitten – so tiny she fit in the palm of Teixeira’s hand – needed…
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Paddy Power cuts 1,400 jobs and blames betting tax rises
The government increased taxes on online casino and sports betting in last year's Budget.
Business
Financial bullying can ruin a marriage: first-person stories
<p>When partners consider finances, when is it ‘my’ money, and when it is ‘our’ money? Guardian readers shared their experiences </p><ul><li><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/08/end-loveless-marriage-financially-dependent">Private li…
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Union attacks NatWest plans to get workers back to the office
The bank says workers will be required to attend the office at least two days a week from February.
Business
We must tax the wealth of billionaires, not just income. California can lead the way | Ro Khanna
<p>Will California stand with the working class or the oligarchs in the vote this November?</p><p>The Democratic party has a choice to make. Are we going to be New Deal Democrats or corporate Democrats? Are we standing with the working class or the tech oli…
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Chancellor rejects calls to raise Capital Gains Tax in Budget
Influential Labour figures had been pushing for equalising CGT and income tax, but critics have said this could drive wealthy people out of Britain.
Business
‘I ain’t goin nowhere’: Gullah Geechee people fight off developers with a historic referendum
<p>A citizen referendum, only the second of its kind in Georgia history, seeks to block a zoning amendment</p><p>Ire Gene Grovner stood behind his house on a recent morning, between chicken pens on one side and rows of winter collard greens on the other, ho…
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wins dismissal of sister's lawsuit
A US district judge dismissed the case after Ann Altman had refused to attend an independent medical examination.
Business
Jobless rate falls but small firms cut back hiring
Small firms cite labour costs as a key factor in scaling back hiring, the Office for National Statistics says.
Business
Burnham vows end to 'rip-off parking charges' under new rules
The changes come after concerns that penalties issued by private providers are too harsh and leave motorists unfairly punished.
Business
'I'm fed up of swiping': The singles choosing dating events over apps
The BBC hears from people who think dating events are better value for money than dating apps.
Business
How is the US economy really doing under President Trump?
Ahead of the midterms Trump has boasted about the performance of the US economy. BBC Verify looks at inflation, jobs and economic growth in the country.
Business
Vinted blocks French looters listing stolen goods for sale
The platform said since the weekend it had "taken immediate action to identify and remove listings linked to looting".
Business
The tech helping crack decades-old cold cases
Investigative genetic genealogy can help hunt down criminals but raises worries over privacy.
Business
Living with a stink? Technology might help
Smells from rubbish dumps and industrial facilities are being more carefully monitored.
Business
As Christmas rush looms, how do China-made toys find their way to the US?
With the festive season on the horizon, we trace toys from factories in China to US shelves.
Business
How long will humans be needed for translation?
AI dominates the translation business, but for high-stakes work, humans are still needed.
Business
Why are more roofs not made of solar tiles?
Solar tiles were touted as an attractive alternative to solar panels - why have they not taken off?
Business
How oil-rich Alberta's economy might fare if it broke away from Canada
Albertans vote this month on staying in Canada or moving ahead to a binding independence referendum.
Business
Rainmakers: The drones used to seed clouds
Cloud seeding is gaining attention as countries look to boost rainfall - will drones help?
Business
The AI telling farmers when to harvest
Will farmers want AI tools to help judge when to pick fruit, or is their own intuition enough?
Business
The start-ups hoping to return battery making to the US
Batteries based on sodium-ion technology could be made in the US with locally sourced materials.
Business
X-planes: Are they needed in the new era of drones?
Where do America's X-plane projects fit in an era of cheap drones?
Business
How the oil capital of the US welcomed a solar power boom
Texas is now the country's biggest producer of solar-farmed electricity.
Business
Spain battles climate change on several fronts
A summer of wildfires and heatwaves underlines the threats to the country's economy.
Business
The virtual worlds where robots are trained
Training systems that allow robots to negotiate the real world are getting more sophisticated.
Business
Would you buy branded clothing from your favourite tech firm?
Nvidia, OpenAI and Anthropic are all now selling their own limited edition fashion lines.