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Economy and business environment

Make sense of the ever-changing world with upheaval and disruption all around us. The world in which we operate never stays the same, our content helps you stay on top of it.
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Highlights from ICAEW's business podcasts

Tackling productivity
Tackling productivity
  • 16 Nov 2022
Suren Thiru, ICAEW's Director, Economies, discusses why productivity continues to be such a huge issue for the UK economy..
Giving business financial headroom
Giving business financial headroom
  • 16 Nov 2022
Suren Thiru, ICAEW's Director, Economies, explains what types of support businesses need in these difficult economic times.

Latest on economy and business environment

Read our latest features and articles on the economy.
Economic update: why the recession may soon be over
  • Article
  • 08 Apr 2024
  • ICAEW
The UK’s recession appears to be ending with cuts to summer interest rate likely. ICAEW’s Economies Director Suren Thiru discusses the key points to watch.
ICAEW member insights: March 2024
  • Article
  • 04 Apr 2024
  • ICAEW
The Chancellor’s much anticipated Spring Budget dominated feedback from ICAEW members in March, although many were left underwhelmed by its content.
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Chart of the week: Retail sales
  • Article
  • 28 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW
Our chart this week looks at how retail sales have increased by 19.5% over the past five years, comprising a 1.4% fall in volumes and a 21.2% increase in prices.
Fiscal deficit still too high for comfort
  • Article
  • 25 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW
Only a small improvement in the year-to-date deficit of £107bn reported in the penultimate monthly public finance release for 2023/24, over the same period a year ago.
thumb chart 21 mar
Chart of the week: Core inflation
  • Article
  • 21 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee held interest rates constant at its latest meeting, despite CPI falling to 3.4% in February and core inflation dropping to 4.5%.
Accountancy jobs market buoyant despite slump
  • Article
  • 20 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW
Job confidence growth sits at near record high since research began in 2009 regardless of current economic conditions, new analysis reveals.
Councils in North twice as likely to fail
  • Article
  • 15 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW
Without extra funds, more English councils are set to go bankrupt – but those in the North are more at risk than councils in the South as regional inequalities are exposed.
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Chart of the week: wage inflation
  • Article
  • 14 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW
Our chart this week takes a look at how average earnings have risen over the last decade and how they compare with the headline rate of inflation.
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Topics in depth

Man studying accounts with calculator and magnifying glass
Economic analysis
Use our selection of articles, reports and eBooks to find economic analysis.
Trade shipping containers
Export
Use our selection of articles, reports, country guides and eBooks to find out more on growth and export.
Builders in group talking about industry project
Productivity and industrial strategy
Use our selection of eBooks, articles, links and guides to find information on business productivity and industrial strategy.

Reports

F&A’s role in responding to instability & volatility
  • Report
  • Mar 2023
Download the new whitepaper based on research by BlackLine and Censuswide.
Special Report 71 - The retail revolution
  • Report
  • Sep 2021
Our focused report on retail will detail the vast changes that have been undertaken in this industry since the onset of Covid, and how you can adapt to get to the top.
Exclusive Special Report 67- Problem solving
  • Report
  • Apr 2020
This month’s special report focuses on solving problems of all shapes and sizes in the workplace. Whatever your position in the hierarchy, there are practical hints and tips included to make your day-to-day work easier and more efficient.
The UK economy
  • Report
  • Jun 2018
This report explores many of the hot issues now facing the UK and global economy.
Exclusive Special Report 61: The UK economy
  • Report
  • Jun 2018
  • PDF (1,617kb)
This report explores many of the hot topics now facing the UK and global economy.
Special report - Export for growth
  • Report
  • Jun 2017
This report provides a practical guide to global exporting and includes interviews with SME exporters.
Special report: Behavioural economics
  • Report
  • Mar 2012
This special report highlights the importance of understanding the human behaviour in our choice selection.
More reports

Webinars and podcasts

ep 70
Budget 2024: does it change anything?
  • Podcast
  • 08 Mar 2024
In this Insights In Focus episode, we discuss the contents of the 2024 Spring Budget and their likely impacts on the UK economy.
ep 71
Does Britain have a farming problem?
  • Podcast
  • 08 Mar 2024
In this Insights In Focus episode, we discuss how changes to the funding of British farms could affect the UK’s broader economic resilience.
London city skyline buildings skyscrapers sunrise sunset sun light reflecting on The Shard
What can we expect from 2024?
  • Podcast
  • 15 Dec 2023
In this Insights In Focus episode, we discuss what 2024 is likely to bring for businesses and their accountants.
Male and female manufacturing workers
How to build a workforce of the future
  • Podcast
  • 27 Oct 2023
In this Insights In Focus episode, we explore strategies to expand and upskill Britain’s workforce.
ICAEW's Director of Trust and Ethics, Laura Hough, discusses why good people do bad things with industry experts in this ICAEW Insights Podcast.
Why do good people do bad things?
  • Podcast
  • 29 Sep 2023
In this Insights In Focus episode, we discuss professional ethics and seek to answer the age-old question: why do good people do bad things?
ep 57
The PM’s pledges: where are we now?
  • Podcast
  • 01 Sep 2023
In this Insights In Focus episode, we analyse the health of the UK economy through the lens of the Prime Minister’s pledges for 2023.
ep 55
Commercial property: economic bellwether or laggard?
  • Podcast
  • 28 Jul 2023
In this Insights In Focus episode, we analyse the UK’s current economic turbulence through the lens of the commercial property sector.
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Ageing population: a public finance timebomb?
  • Podcast
  • 21 Apr 2023
In this special Insights In Focus episode, we discuss how the UK’s changing demographics are having an impact on public finances and policymaking.
More webinars

eBooks

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.

Exclusive Doing business in India: the PESTEL framework
  • eBook
  • 2022
  • Anurag K. Agarwal
  • Springer
Examines India's position in global business. Highlights case studies of foreign businesses which have achieved success in India despite the tough market.
Exclusive Dictionary of finance and banking
  • eBook
  • 2018
  • Jonathan Law
  • Oxford University Press
This sixth edition of the bestselling Dictionary of Finance and Banking has been fully revised and updated to take into account the ever-developing financial landscape of the last five years. This comprehensive A-Z defines terms from all aspects of personal and international finance, including money markets, private investments and borrowing, central banking, foreign exchanges, monetary policy, and public and government finance.
Exclusive No small change: why financial services needs a new kind of marketing
  • eBook
  • 2018
  • Lucian Camp, Anthony Thomson
  • Wiley
This book takes the form of a 13-point practical manifesto arguing that the fast-changing financial services world urgently needs to rethink the whole of its approach to marketing. The thirteen chapters look at the key components of the new approach.
Exclusive Doing business in China (4th edition)
  • eBook
  • 2017
  • Chao Xi, Morgen Witzel, Tim Ambler
  • Routledge
This title offers business-people a theoretical framework for the understanding of business practices, markets, negotiations, organizations, networks and the Chinese business context.
Exclusive Financial regulation in the EU: from resilience to growth
  • eBook
  • 2017
  • Sonia Mckay, Andrea Oates, Glynis Morris
  • Palgrave Macmillan
This publication looks to provide a bigger picture view of the impact and future of financial regulation in the EU, exploring the relationship between microeconomic incentives and macroeconomic growth, regulation and financial integration, and the changes required in economic policy to further European integration.
Exclusive Trading places?: VAT and Customs treatment of imports, exports and 'Intra-EU' transactions, and cross-border supplies of services in the Digital Age.
  • eBook
  • 2016
  • Andrew Rimmer
  • Spiramus Press
This book introduces the main concepts and trade facilitation reliefs that businesses must understand if they are to trade internationally with the least intervention and disruption from the Tax Authorities
Exclusive Financial Times guide to foreign exchange trading
  • eBook
  • 2015
  • Stuart Fieldhouse
  • FT Publishing International
An introduction to the foreign exchange marketplace, showing how the markets work, how to trade them successfully and how to mitigate risk.
Exclusive Mastering financial mathematics in Microsoft Excel: a practical guide to business calculations (3rd edition)
  • eBook
  • 2015
  • Alastair Day
  • FT Publishing International
Fully updated and compliant with Excel 2013, this clearly explains the basic calculations for mathematical finance, backed up with simple templates for further use and development, and a workbook with exercises and solutions at the end of each chapter
Terms of use

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.

More eBooks

Business press

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides access to leading business, finance and management journals. These journals are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users subject to suppliers' terms of use.
Exclusive How to succeed in volatile times
  • Article
  • 01 Mar 2024
  • Karen Harris, Austin Kimson, Dunigan O'Keeffe
The case study of the Texas-based supermarket chain H-E-B and its quick reaction to the pandemic is used as an example of how to adapt fast. We've now entered a new era, say the authors: a time of post-globalization, capital rationalization, spatial dispersion, shrinking workforces, and dependence on automation. They suggest a three-part strategy approach for this time of volatility, integrating capabilities for prediction, adaptability and resilience. Companies should map exposures, develop scenarios, allocate capital and track signals.
Exclusive Should I stay, or should I go?: Salary and recruitment trends for the year ahead
  • Article
  • 01 Feb 2024
  • Natascha Whitehead
The article discusses the findings of the Hays 2024 UK Salary and Recruiting Trends guide, highlighting the increased optimism among accountancy and finance employers about the economic climate, the persistent skills shortages in areas like credit management, and the growing importance of skills over degrees for accountancy employers. Topics include credit professionals' job satisfaction, the importance of flexible working and a benefits package to candidates and the impact of the rising cost of living on job moves.
Exclusive Thai billionaire plans 250 more hotels within three years
  • Article
  • 24 Jan 2024
  • Patpicha Tanakasempipat
Minor International Pcl, a major Asian hospitality group, plans to add 250 hotels to its global portfolio over the next three years. The expansion is driven by the recovery of the global tourism sector, particularly the increase in outbound Chinese tourists. The company's optimism contrasts with a new Bloomberg Intelligence survey released in January 2024, which predicted that budgets for Chinese travellers may decrease or stay flat in 2024.
Exclusive Brits can't stop buying cakes and cheap clothes
  • Article
  • 23 Jan 2024
  • Leonard Kehnscherper
December 2023's drop in retail sales and the unexpected rise in inflation caused some industry experts to fear that consumers' resilience is wilting. But it seems that doesn't apply to cheap fashion and sweet treats. Primark reached its highest ever market share in the final months of 2023, while a jump in Cadbury cake sales helped Premier Foods deliver a 21% jump in its sweet treats division.
Exclusive UK insolvencies jump 14% in 2023 after interest rates surge
  • Article
  • 16 Jan 2024
  • Tom Rees
The number of UK companies suffering insolvency jumped 14% in 2023 as firms collapsed under the weight of higher borrowing costs and weaker economic growth. The article gives an overview of the factors involved and the sectors most affected.
Exclusive UK Christmas retail sales disappoint as shoppers pull back
  • Article
  • 09 Jan 2024
  • Elina Ganatra, Katie Linsell
UK Christmas retail sales were disappointing, growing only 1.7% in December compared to almost 7% growth the previous year. Weak consumer confidence and higher inflation were cited as reasons for the sluggish sales. However, food sales increased by 6.8% in the three months leading up to December, and discount retailers like Aldi and Lidl performed well. The difficult retail environment is expected to continue due to higher living costs and other factors.
Exclusive UK property becoming more affordable at quickest pace in decades
  • Article
  • 30 Dec 2023
  • Lucy White
House prices in the UK are becoming more affordable at the fastest pace in decades, which is expected to allow more people to enter the property market. However, some economists still view UK homes as overvalued. The government is considering various housing measures to address the issue, including support for longer fixed-term mortgages and reducing the size of deposits.
Exclusive UK retailers report weak Christmas trading, CBI survey finds
  • Article
  • 21 Dec 2023
  • Tom Rees
UK retailers have reported a decline in sales during the Christmas 2023 trading period, indicating a potential weakening of the UK economy. Retailers anticipate a contraction in sales during January 2024 and are expected to reduce their orders in January.
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