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The questions that keep coming back.
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What is deflation?Deflation is a sustained fall in the general price level. Unlike a one-off price drop, deflation means prices across the economy are falling consistently over time. Central banks fear it more than inflation because it is harder to escape and causes severe economic damage once entrenched.UK inflation forecast for 2026: where CPI goes nextUK CPI was 2.9% in July 2026, above the Bank of England’s 2% target. The Bank expects energy to push inflation higher again in the near term, while underlying domestic inflation continues to cool.What is fiscal policy?Fiscal policy is the use of government spending and taxation to influence economic activity. When the government increases spending or cuts taxes, it stimulates the economy. When it cuts spending or raises taxes, it tightens it. Fiscal policy is distinct from monetary policy, which operates through interest rates.What is monetary policy?Monetary policy is the use of interest rates, money supply, and other financial tools by a central bank to manage inflation and economic conditions. In the UK, it is set by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, which meets eight times a year.What is the UK corporation tax rate?The main rate of UK corporation tax is 25 percent for companies with profits above £250,000. Smaller companies with profits below £50,000 pay 19 percent. A marginal relief system applies for profits between the two thresholds.What is the UK national debt, and who owns it?UK public sector net debt was £2.985 trillion at the end of July 2026, equivalent to 94.1% of GDP. Here is what that number measures, how gilts finance the state and who ultimately holds the claims.What are UK gilts?UK gilts are government bonds issued by the Treasury to finance public borrowing. They pay a fixed rate of interest and return the principal at maturity. Gilt yields are one of the most important indicators in UK financial markets, influencing mortgage rates, pension valuations, and government borrowing costs.UK tariffs on US goods: what changed and what it meansThe UK and US imposed new tariffs on each other's goods in 2025, marking a significant shift in trade relations. Here is what tariffs the UK now has on US goods, what the US has imposed on UK exports, and what the economic impact looks like.What is RPI in the UK, and how is it different from CPI?UK RPI inflation was 3.2% in July 2026, compared with CPI at 2.9% and CPIH at 3.1%. RPI is still used in contracts and indexation, but it is not the Bank of England’s inflation target measure.The UK business reading stack: what to pair Briefed withNobody serious relies on one source. The right setup is a small, deliberate stack: a fast orientation layer plus a primary source for depth. Here is where Briefed fits, why Briefed plus the FT beats Briefed instead of it, and what to cut.What is CPIx? The Briefed consumer stress index, explainedCPIx is the Briefed real-time consumer stress index for the UK and US. It measures what households are doing with money, not how they say they feel. Here is what it tracks, how it differs from ONS and GfK data, and how to read it.How to sound well-informed in business meetingsSounding well-informed is not about knowing more facts. It is about knowing which facts matter and why. Here is the difference between headline-aware and genuinely briefed, and the daily habit that closes the gap.