Business Briefing

In January 2026, annual inflation in the euro area decreased to 1.7%, down from 2.0% in December 2025, a notable shift that hints at easing cost pressures within households. However, beneath the headline figures, a diverse inflation landscape emerges; for instance, Romania and Slovakia reported significantly higher rates at 8.5% and 4.3%, respectively. This disparity signals potential challenges in achieving cohesive monetary stability across the bloc, as elevated inflation in certain member states could affect overall policy effectiveness. As the euro area adapts to these variances, the broader implications for economic cohesion in the region warrant careful observation.

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Trump’s new tariffs, including a 10 percent levy on all countries, caused Apple’s stock to drop over six percent. The company depends on manufacturing in places like China and Taiwan.

Stock markets in London, Paris, and Berlin fell on Thursday following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs. The UK has been hit with a baseline 10% while the EU has been hit with 20%.

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “keep a cool head” in the face of the “economic impact” of Donald Trump’s 10 per cent tariffs on UK exports to the US, amid fears of a wider trade war.

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