Daily answers to economic questions. Policy briefings, writing & data masterclasses & a new data hub.https://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mkkpcurf522iJUST PUBLISHED – Scotland’s parliamentary election 2026: what are the big economic choices? by Graeme Roy @ProfGraemeRoy buff.ly/zomLlv7 https://www.economicsobservatory.com/scotlands-parliamentary-election-2026-what-are-the-big-economic-choices28 Apr 2026 13:36 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkkpcurf522ihttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mkkeiv5tgt2lFor nearly three decades, Labour has depended on the capital as a rock-solid source of parliamentary strength. After the local election votes are counted, the party will have to think long and hard about whether it has taken London for granted and now risks being ejected from its safest seats. 👇 https://buff.ly/mXUGKDc28 Apr 2026 10:23 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkkeiv5tgt2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mkiinrygel2bJUST PUBLISHED – UK local elections 2026: what are the prospects in London? buff.ly/mXUGKDc27 Apr 2026 16:32 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkiinrygel2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mk5s6bz4en2rDeveloping countries are often vulnerable to fuel price shocks caused by global geopolitical tensions. As well as raising the costs of key items such as petrol and food, conflicts like the Iran war can force affected governments into expensive subsidies, further damaging already weak economies. https://buff.ly/wN1kNsw23 Apr 2026 10:23 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk5s6bz4en2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mk3bpesqsd2rMore often than not, the political answer to the North of England’s economic challenges is more trains. Yet while fresh investment in rail infrastructure may boost prosperity in certain places, it isn’t the catch-all solution that some politicians present it to be. 👇 https://buff.ly/S5tU1aq22 Apr 2026 10:23 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3bpesqsd2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mjzjdw2ha42pJUST PUBLISHED – How is the conflict in the Middle East affecting developing economies? By Lotanna E. Emediegwu 👇 buff.ly/wN1kNsw https://www.economicsobservatory.com/how-is-the-conflict-in-the-middle-east-affecting-developing-economies21 Apr 2026 17:34 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzjdw2ha42phttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mjzfucqhud2oNEW on the Economics Observatory – Are more trains the answer to economic struggles in the North of England? By @paulswinney.bsky.social https://buff.ly/S5tU1aq21 Apr 2026 16:32 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzfucqhud2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mjyraifgti2iJUST PUBLISHED – Are more trains the answer to economic struggles in the North of England? By @paulswinney.bsky.social https://buff.ly/S5tU1aq21 Apr 2026 10:23 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjyraifgti2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mjw7kvsghb27IEA projects that data centres could more than double their energy use by 2030 due to AI demand. Hyperscalers like AWS and Google are projected to lead growth, but colocation and service providers that rent server space and single-firm enterprise servers will still play a large role. #ChartOfTheDay20 Apr 2026 10:01 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjw7kvsghb27https://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mjmohydpfy2uAI usage among students has exploded over the past few years. Currently, approximately two-thirds of university students in the United Kingdom use generative AI for their studies, compared to fewer than one in five in 2023. #ChartOfTheDay16 Apr 2026 15:01 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjmohydpfy2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mjjkk7hnnr2tSince 2014, the post-communist NATO members — Poland, the Baltic states, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria — have more than doubled their combined share of alliance defence spending, from 1.8% to 4.1% in 2024. #ChartOfTheDay15 Apr 2026 09:13 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjjkk7hnnr2thttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mjhslvtvbs2kThe history of British defence policy has been one of constant imbalance between resources, capability and commitments, interspersed with reviews that fail to solve the fundamental problems. These appraisals are typically done at times of economic crisis when public expenditure must be controlled. https://buff.ly/34jsF7A14 Apr 2026 16:32 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjhslvtvbs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mjgynqbcuz2kTODAY on the Economics Observatory – UK national security: what have we learned from strategic defence reviews? 🔎 Revisiting Ron Smith's 2025 analysis. https://buff.ly/34jsF7A14 Apr 2026 08:47 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjgynqbcuz2khttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mj5bjyhotx2vUK-India trade has grown significantly, with services now dominating both sides. Services exports to India have nearly tripled since 2014, while services imports from India have surged even more, reaching roughly £25 billion by 2024, widening the UK's trade deficit with India. #ChartOfTheDay10 Apr 2026 12:00 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj5bjyhotx2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mixwlwr7o32yThe UK lags the US significantly in venture capital investment across all maturity stages. US later-stage VC investment represents 0.29% of GDP compared to the UK's 0.09%, while early-stage investment is 0.19% in the US versus 0.07% in the UK. #ChartOfTheDay08 Apr 2026 09:01 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mixwlwr7o32yhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mivg53d7sx2eThe UK has the highest industrial electricity prices among IEA countries at 26.6 pence per kWh in 2024. This is 75% above the IEA median and more than four times higher than the US and Norway. #ChartOfTheDay07 Apr 2026 09:01 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mivg53d7sx2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3misvnq3fun2vSterling net lending to PNFCs reached £457bn in 2025. As a share of GDP, it has declined from a peak of 31% in 2009 to 15% in 2025, suggesting businesses are increasingly relying on internal funding or non-bank capital sources. #ChartOfTheDay06 Apr 2026 09:00 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3misvnq3fun2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3milhlrqpqn22Risk aversion is the primary barrier preventing UK SMEs from seeking external finance, cited by 63% of businesses that needed but did not apply for funding. Cost concerns (60%) and unfavorable economic conditions (59%) were also major deterrents. #ChartOfTheDay03 Apr 2026 10:00 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3milhlrqpqn22https://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3miitrvgclk2vIndustrial electricity prices in the UK surged after Q4 2020. Prices peaked at 28.4 pence per kWh (including CCL) in Q4 2023, more than seven times 2004 levels. Prices have since declined to 23.5 pence per kWh by Q3 2025.02 Apr 2026 09:00 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3miitrvgclk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mih2tgl2vw22One in three UK workers uses generative AI on the job (36%). That's ahead of Germany (32%), France (28%), and Italy (26%), but behind the US, where 43% of workers have adopted it. #ChartOfTheDay01 Apr 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mih2tgl2vw22https://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3midxh4guce2sThe benefits of distinctive urban architecture extend far beyond the buildings themselves, but the costs are borne by the developers. This can lead to underinvestment in high-quality design – and it raises the question of whether policy should encourage better architecture. 👇 https://buff.ly/jC4Xyvd31 Mar 2026 10:23 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3midxh4guce2shttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mibo3nvs4s2uThe FT 1000 fastest-growing European companies list shows the UK still punches above its weight in Fintech, Financial Services and Insurance compared to European peers, while France and Germany perform better in Construction and Engineering. #ChartOfTheDay30 Mar 2026 12:30 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mibo3nvs4s2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mibgy6yrd72bNEW on the Economics Observatory – Why don’t we have nicer buildings? By @ahlfeldt.bsky.social, Ailin Zhang & Elisabetta Pietrostefani https://buff.ly/jC4Xyvd30 Mar 2026 10:23 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mibgy6yrd72bhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mibd4bdgge2zJUST PUBLISHED – Why don’t we have nicer buildings? By @ahlfeldt.bsky.social, Ailin Zhang & Elisabetta Pietrostefani https://buff.ly/jC4Xyvd30 Mar 2026 09:13 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mibd4bdgge2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mhvaue6ozr2vEconomic uncertainty is surging as a top business challenge (32%), second only to labour costs, signaling growing anxiety about the macroeconomic outlook heading into 2026. #ChartOfTheDay25 Mar 2026 14:01 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhvaue6ozr2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mhqkqczqmj27UK total debt is 239% of GDP. Government debt remains above 100% after the pandemic, among the highest in the G7. Corporate debt is the lowest in the group at 61%, while household debt is 76%, which is higher than France or Italy, but below Canada. #ChartOfTheDay23 Mar 2026 17:14 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhqkqczqmj27https://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mhitmmibfj2dNEW on the Economics Observatory – How can the West of England contribute to UK economic growth? By Lucy Martin of @thebrunelcentre.bsky.social 👇 https://buff.ly/Lk0oVcP20 Mar 2026 15:32 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhitmmibfj2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mhiegl4iu42wWith geopolitical instability and supply chain pressures showing no sign of abating, UK households continue to face a persistent cost of living squeeze. A basket of six grocery essentials has risen sharply since 2021 and remains at historically elevated levels. #ChartOfTheDay20 Mar 2026 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhiegl4iu42whttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mhddisgwav2mThe UK has the lowest investment rate among major OECD economies, and while investment has been falling across OECD countries since the 1970s, Britain has consistently sat at the bottom of the pack, hovering around 17-19% of GDP in recent years. #ChartOfTheDay18 Mar 2026 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhddisgwav2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/econ-observatory.bsky.social/post/3mhbdtfhmv32fUK real wages have barely grown since 2007: from $62,816 to $63,691 by 2024 (+1.4%). Meanwhile, the US rose 18%, Poland 63%, South Korea 46%, and the OECD average climbed. Ireland briefly overtook the UK in 2020 but fell to $60,431 by 2024, down 7.5%. #ChartOfTheDay17 Mar 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:evttba3tt2zmoguuafpxo3rq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhbdtfhmv32f