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Economy and business environment articles

Read our latest features and articles on the economy and business environment.
Displaying 1-30 of 703 results
Chart of the week: global stock markets
  • Article
  • 30 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
Our chart looks at how the top 10 stocks from nine companies made up more than a fifth of global stock market values on 31 December 2025.
A group of people sat down round a table having a meeting
Member Insights: a less than confident start
  • Article
  • 29 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
Business confidence remains low in the first month of 2026, with businesses expressing a number of economic concerns.
Wind turbines on a wooded hillside at dusk surrounded by clouds
Global natural capital accounting standard: Why it matters for finance professionals
  • Article
  • 29 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
The first global standard for natural capital accounting recognises the role that nature plays in sustaining business value. Learn more about ISO 14054 and its application.
Palace of Westminster, London
Influencing policy to support you: January 2026
  • Article
  • 29 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
At the start of 2026, ICAEW has been working with policymakers to find solutions to the potential impact of the Finance Bill on tax advisers, sharing the latest results of the business confidence monitor and informing debate on the Pension Schemes Bill.
A person holding a mobile phone in one hand, making a payment with a bank card, held in the other hand
Do data privacy concerns set the tone for cyber security in 2026?
  • Article
  • 29 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
We’re only a month into 2026 but already cyber and data privacy have been making headlines. With the spotlight on xAI’s Grok this month, you may have missed some other significant stories.
Bank of England
Economic update: why the UK economy is sending red herring signals
  • Article
  • 28 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
The UK economy has grown but business confidence continues to weaken and inflation has risen. Suren Thiru, ICAEW’s Director, Economies, discusses the implications, what you need to know about current economic conditions and key points to watch.
Group of people around a table having a meeting
Business confidence takes a tumble in Wales
  • Article
  • 28 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
Welsh business confidence fell into negative territory in the fourth quarter of 2025, following the UK-wide slump in growth and confidence.
Group of people around a table having a meeting
Scottish business confidence low, forecasts weak
  • Article
  • 28 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
Mirroring the rest of the country, business confidence in Scotland has dropped to its lowest level since 2022, with ongoing uncertainty and low economic growth, a survey of business leaders has found.
Chart of the week: Australian Government balance sheet
  • Article
  • 23 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
Our chart marks Australia Day by looking at the federal government balance sheet over the last decade.
Government invests in tech sectors, but businesses need certainty too
  • Article
  • 21 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
The government has announced investments of more than £300m in key technology sectors to boost growth, but businesses also need more certainty and less complexity.
About BCM and methodology
  • Article
  • 14 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW
One of the largest and most comprehensive quarterly surveys, running for 20 years, the BCM includes a vast range of indicators and provides an authoritative and authentic voice on the economy and business issues.
Group of people around a table having a meeting
Tax worries pull business confidence further into negative territory
  • Article
  • 14 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
Tax concerns hit a five-year high as business confidence continues to fall, according to the latest Business Confidence Monitor (BCM).
Chart of the week: Budget 2025 Fiscal Insight
  • Article
  • 09 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
Our chart this week returns to the scene of the Budget as we publish an in-depth analysis of its effect on the public finances and how it was ‘all about the headroom’.
Suren Thiru, ICAEW Director Economies
2026: a difficult year ahead for the economy
  • Article
  • 01 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
The tricky economic climate is here to stay, but inflation is likely to fall more quickly in the year ahead, according to Suren Thiru, ICAEW's Director, Economies.
Bank of England
Economic update: What to expect in 2026?
  • Article
  • 01 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
Following a difficult end to 2025, the UK’s economic performance is likely to weaken further, despite lower inflation and falling interest rates. Suren Thiru, ICAEW’s Director, Economies, outlines what to expect in the year ahead.
David Petrie, ICAEW Head of Corporate Finance
2026: New deal skills and more capital investment
  • Article
  • 01 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
While the economy may not be perfect, there are positive signs that we’ll see more public company and private equity activity in 2026, says David Petrie, ICAEW’s Head of Corporate Finance.
ICAEW's Head of Corporate Reporting Strategy, Sally Baker, filming our Insights look ahead to 2026 video.
2026: ICAEW experts look ahead
  • Article
  • 01 Jan 2026
  • ICAEW Insights
ICAEW experts preview what lies ahead for accountancy, business and the economy in 2026. Find out what we think will happen in the fields of audit and assurance, corporate finance, corporate governance, corporate reporting, sustainability and tax.
Iain Wright and David Williamson
A World Cup bump, an AI slump? 2026 predictions
  • Podcast
  • 31 Dec 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
In the first episode of 2026, our usual team of soothsayers David Williamson, Frances Haque and Iain Wright review the events of the past 12 months, and look ahead to what we might expect in the coming year.
A selection of graphical charts
Chart of the week: Inflation
  • Article
  • 19 Dec 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
The Bank of England’s Christmas present to the nation of a cut in interest rates prompts our chart of the week to take a look at what is going under the hood of inflation.
Female in smart attire working on her laptop
Strengthening global relationships in 2025
  • Article
  • 18 Dec 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
In an increasingly interconnected global economy, ICAEW’s international presence plays a vital role in strengthening the accountancy profession, influencing policy, and supporting members wherever they live and work. Find out more about what was achieved this year.
A group of people sat down round a table having a meeting
Member Insights 2025: Lessons in resilience
  • Article
  • 18 Dec 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
Across the year, members navigated a challenging mix of rising employment costs, geopolitical tensions, tariff disruption, subdued consumer confidence and a persistent lack of policy certainty.
Palace of Westminster, London
Influencing policy throughout 2025
  • Article
  • 17 Dec 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
As the Labour government marked its first year in power, ICAEW has worked to ensure members’ views are heard by policymakers on important issues, including employment rights, industrial strategy, apprenticeship funding and audit and corporate governance reform.
Can the government’s Business Growth Service get small businesses growing?
  • Article
  • 15 Dec 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
The Business Growth Service is designed to make it easier for small businesses to find the support they need.
A selection of graphical charts
Chart of the week: Budget 2025 debt blues
  • Article
  • 05 Dec 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
Our chart this week illustrates how despite being a “tax-raising Budget”, the cumulative net effect of all the changes announced last week is to add £61bn to the public sector net debt forecast for 31 March 2030.
Houses of Parliament at night
Budget expected to have negative impact on businesses, says ICAEW
  • Article
  • 04 Dec 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
An ICAEW poll has found that close to three-quarters of respondents agreed the Budget would negatively impact their organisation.
Iain Wright, Guy Ruddle and Frances Haque
Budget 25: where’s the growth?
  • Podcast
  • 01 Dec 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
This episode is all about the Budget. What was in it? What are the implications? Was there anything positive to glean from it?
Economy explainers: what is the public balance sheet?
  • Article
  • 28 Nov 2025
  • ICAEW Public Sector Team
What is the 'public balance sheet' and what does it mean for people and businesses? ICAEW experts offer this simple guide on the public balance sheet – the government’s assets and liabilities – why they matter and the future outlook.
Economy explainers: public finances and spending
  • Article
  • 28 Nov 2025
  • ICAEW Public Sector Team
What are the public finances and how do they affect people and businesses? ICAEW experts offer this simple guide on how the government raises money and how it spends it, as well as the future outlook.
Economy explainers: what is the deficit?
  • Article
  • 28 Nov 2025
  • ICAEW Public Sector Team
Journalists and politicians talk a lot about ‘the deficit’. But what is it and how does it affect people and businesses? ICAEW experts offer this simple guide on the deficit, why it matters, and the future outlook.
Group of people around a table having a meeting
Understanding the economic implications of the Budget
  • Article
  • 28 Nov 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
Economic update: ICAEW’s Economies Director Suren Thiru discusses the implications of the Budget, what you need to know about current economic conditions and key points to watch.
Displaying 1-30 of 703 results
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