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UK households bracing for new cost of living crisis, report finds

UK households bracing for new cost of living crisis, report finds British households are bracing for a new cost of living crisis, as the impact of the Middle East conflict dampens confidence in the economy

Reeves arrives at IMF with little leeway to prove its UK downgrade wrong

UK downgrade wrong The Iran war is bad news for the global economy. But for some countries, the unfolding conflict is having a bigger impact than for others. The [International Monetary Fund’s verdict

US war on Iran was a 'mistake', says Reeves

impact on the UK economy, there would be long-term economic pain globally, because of the damage done to oil and gas facilities in the Middle East. Energy prices have soared since the war began

Interest rates expected to be held as uncertainty over Iran war continues

UK and global economies. Analysts are widely predicting the benchmark rate will be left unchanged owing to strong signals from the Bank that it will take time to assess the impact of conflict

UK inflation rate rises to 3.3% in March after Iran war pushes up fuel prices

impact of the Middle East conflict on the cost of living in the UK. Inflation is now expected to be higher this year due to the war and higher energy costs could also slow down

UK faces £35bn hit and risk of recession this year over impact of Iran war, thinktank warns

Middle East conflict has laid bare the fact that the UK remains highly exposed to global energy shocks. Even if hostilities ease rapidly, higher energy prices will leave households poorer, businesses facing higher costs

EU faces ‘China shock’ as EV imports drive Beijing’s record surplus with bloc

impacted than other Asian countries and has been able to [tap into substantial reserves](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/20/china-oil-reserves-global-energy-crisis). “So far, China’s trade with the world has been barely affected by the conflict in the Middle

'Bit of pain' worth long-term security from Iran, Bessent tells BBC

impact on consumers would be less severe. Oil has risen close to $120 during the Iran conflict but has since fallen back, although it remains above pre-war levels, and [on Tuesday, a barrel

Starmer will not be swayed by Trump’s ‘small and petty’ insults, says Lammy

Middle East are having on British energy bills, while Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, [has described the conflict as a “mistake”](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/15/rachel-reeves-donald-trump-iran-war-uk-us) that is wreaking havoc on the global economy. In an attempt

First ever talks to ditch fossil fuels as UN deadlock deepens

Impact Research, told BBC News. "Breaking through 1.5C means we enter a far more dangerous world - with more frequent and intense droughts, floods, fires and heatwaves - and we are already approaching critical tipping points

Middle East crisis live: US claims blockade has ‘completely halted economic trade’ into Iran, as Trump hints at return to talks in Pakistan

Middle East”. > double quotation markAn estimated 90% of Iran’s economy is fueled by international trade by sea. In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade

The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages

conflict in the Middle East. There are now concerns that unless the Strait of Hormuz reopens soon, there could be physical shortages in some areas in the coming months. Many airlines have already pushed

Bank of England boss tells BBC he won't rush interest rate rises

Middle East conflict. Bailey said the Bank of England was taking into account the IMF's "serious advice". Before the US-Israeli attacks on Iran six weeks ago, the Bank of England was widely expected

Barclays cuts back risky lending after £228m hit from UK mortgage firm MFS

impact on the economy,” he said. “And we do care. We’ve not seen anything particularly yet in terms of credit weakness. But what you’ve seen is that the inflation print in the UK

UK house prices jump despite impact of Middle East conflict

impact of Middle East conflict House price growth in the UK has surprised estate agents and economists by jumping in April at the fastest annual pace in 11 months, according to [Nationwide](https://www.theguardian.com/business/nationwide).

UK firms in ‘critical financial stress’ jump by a third as costs rise, report finds

impact of the Middle East conflict. Hospitality and leisure firms have been faring particularly badly because of shaky consumer confidence, and rising taxes and staff costs, according to research by the restructuring company Begbies Traynor

Bank bosses called to meeting with Reeves over impact of Iran war on UK economy

impact of the crisis in the Middle East triggered by the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran. The chief executives of HSBC, [Barclays](https://www.theguardian.com/business/barclay), Lloyds, NatWest and Santander have been asked

Cut UK speed limits to reduce Iran war impact on consumers, thinktank urges

impact of the Iran war on consumers, a thinktank has said. Capping legal speeds at 20mph in towns and cities and 60mph on motorways would help reduce fuel demand and combat [soaring oil prices

Mortgages, bills and jobs: Five takeaways from the Bank of England meeting

conflict in the Middle East hits the economy. Here are five key takeaways. Not that long ago, most economists were expecting interest rates to fall this year. The Iran war changed that. Although the Bank

Lloyds takes £151m hit from Iran war as it forecasts rise in UK unemployment

economies. Overall, Lloyds expects its base case for UK gross domestic product growth to be only 0.5% this year, lower than the 0.8% [forecast](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/14/iran-war-global-recession-imf-uk-growth-forecasts-oil-prices) by the International Monetary Fund earlier this month