Business & Finance
Ofgem raised the energy price cap for October to December 2026, while the government rebate of VAT on domestic electricity, introduced earlier in October, leaves a gap between headline help and bills many households will still face. The combined measures are reshaping household budgets and corporate cost forecasts ahead of the Autumn Budget.
BT Group has agreed a deal to acquire TalkTalk’s consumer and wholesale operations after the broadband provider entered administration. The emergency sale, urged by ministers, aims to keep services running for 2.5 million customers and safeguard public sector connections while triggering a fast regulatory review.
Jaguar Land Rover’s voluntary redundancy programme for salaried and management staff closes on October 4, 2026, marking a key point in the company’s two year plan to cut costs and secure 1.7 billion pounds in savings amid weaker sales, tariffs and intensifying competition.
A global rout in government bonds has pushed long UK gilt yields to multi decade highs, forcing lenders to pull cheaper mortgage deals and leaving hundreds of thousands of households facing sharp payment shocks before Chancellor John Healey’s October 28 budget.
The UK Treasury on September 28, 2026 published a revised gilt issuance plan to cover higher borrowing needs, prompting a sharp reassessment across gilt and swap markets and renewed scrutiny of the public finances.
From September 27, 2026, new EU rules on environmental claims formally take effect across the bloc, while UK regulators are stepping up enforcement under existing consumer protection law. Companies selling into Europe or using sustainability claims in the UK face clearer blacklists, stricter substantiation tests and higher risk of enforcement action.
US stock futures moved higher on Monday as Wall Street attempted to recover from another difficult week for the Dow, with investors watching falling oil prices, Treasury yields, interest rates and fresh US-China talks.
British retailer Next has raised its annual profit forecast after a strong first half, but the company expects slower UK sales growth as inflation, mortgage costs and pressure on household finances weigh on consumers.