Sarah Wren
Sarah leads the Journal's coverage of the economy, from the Bank of England's rate decisions to prices on the high street.
Stories by Sarah
Healey takes his borrowing-control pitch to the IMF as experts warn of a £35bn Budget gap
The Chancellor flies to Bangkok for his first IMF annual meetings this week, urging major economies to bring borrowing under control, while the IFS warns he may need up to £36 billion of tax rises.
Burnham pledges law to stop non-compete clauses “trapping” workers and blocking start-ups
The Prime Minister told Manchester's Innovation Nation Summit the Government will legislate so non-competes no longer block hiring at start-ups and scale-ups, calling it the “Bosman ruling for the innovation sector”.
FTSE steadies after worst week since April as services firms feel fuel-price squeeze
Miners led the rebound and Ithaca Energy topped the index on its $1.1 billion Canadian deal, but a services survey showed the sharpest rise in prices charged since May.
Firms trim price-rise plans as wage growth holds steady, Bank survey shows
The Bank of England’s Decision Maker Panel found companies expect to raise prices by 3.7 per cent over the next year, a touch less than before, with 70 per cent saying the energy shock will squeeze profit margins.
UK growth revised up as Britain seals fastest G7 pace in first half of 2026
The ONS now says the economy grew 0.5 per cent in the second quarter, with business investment and household incomes stronger than thought, weeks before John Healey's first Budget.
Business confidence sinks to 17-month low as energy costs bite
Lloyds’ monthly barometer fell 12 points in September, with executives’ view of the global economy darkening as the Iran war pushes up costs.
Diesel hits record 199.18p a litre as Healey opens talks with US over export ban threat
The Chancellor told the BBC that pump prices were ‘extreme’ and that Britain was discussing a possible American diesel export ban with Washington, as the RAC warned prices had entered uncharted territory.
Chancellor names two new faces to the Bank of England’s Court
David Craig and Paul Nowak will serve on the Bank’s governing body until August 2030; Hanneke Smits joins in January.
Bank of England holds rates at 3.75% as three policymakers vote for a rise
A 6-3 split on the Monetary Policy Committee kept Bank Rate on hold, with the minority favouring an increase to 4 per cent against inflation running at 3.1 per cent.