The Edinburgh Festival and Fringe are about to begin, and the question many businesses — and residents — are asking is simple: will the economic boom continue even though accommodation prices have become eye‑watering? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is yes, but with consequences.
When a government announces a cut to energy bills, the immediate reaction is usually positive. Lower bills are welcome.
While I am conducting my own personal home experiment in cutting my energy use at home no amount of switching almost everything off can solve the energy crisis. Not using any of my oil heating cuts the bill to zero but means wearing extra clothes and only occasional quick blasts from a fan heater in one room at a time can reduce the electric bill but living in much less comfort.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, most people in Caithness were watching events unfold as a terrible human tragedy happening thousands of miles away. Few could have predicted how quickly the consequences would reach everyday life in northern Scotland.
Why the business impact doesn’t stop at August — and how it spreads far beyond the capital Edinburgh is not just a festival city — it is a festival powerhouse, running almost continuously from spring to winter. Beyond the world‑famous August festivals, the city hosts major events in books, film, food, science, storytelling, jazz, art, and culture.
Profits soaring, debts exploding, supply tightening — and millions cutting back on basic heat and hot water. The UK is heading into one of the most punishing 12‑month periods for household energy costs in modern history.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are about to begin in Scotland, and the question many businesses are asking is simple: will this actually deliver an economic boost, or is it just political hype?. The 2026 Commonwealth Games are taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, running from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
Andy Burnham’s decision to scrap VAT on household electricity for the 2026–27 financial year is one of his first major fiscal moves. The government says the measure will cost £850 million this year and will be funded by scrapping the Digital Identity Scheme.
For many people in Caithness, the price of oil isn't just something reported on the business pages. It can determine how much it costs to heat a home, fill a tractor, run a fishing boat or transport goods across the Highlands.
As Andy Burnham prepared to appoint his new Chancellor, the Resolution Foundation has published major new research examining the role of the UK’s various public financial institutions (PuFins), and how they can be expanded to unlock billions of pounds’ worth of extra investment. The report is especially prescient given the new Prime Minister’s promise to deliver a high investment economy within the existing fiscal rules.
The Quiet Rise of Economic Insecurity – Why Millions Feel Worse Off Even When They're Working For much of the past few years, the economic headlines have been confusing. Inflation has fallen from its peak.
Why Scotland's public finances face difficult decisions whatever the politics no matter who gets what positions in the UK or Scotland. The hardest budgets are not those where governments have little to do.
The World Economy Has Lost Its Safety Margins – Why Small Crises Now Cause Bigger Price Shocks There was a time when the world economy seemed able to absorb almost anything. An oil-producing country could suffer disruption.
Scotland has become one of Europe's leading areas for wind energy, with turbines now a familiar part of the landscape from the Borders to the Highlands and Islands. But the next stage of the wind revolution may not simply be about building more wind farms.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), published today (22 July), show that UK inflation eased to 2.6% in the year to June 2026, down from 2.8% in May. The fall was slightly larger than many economists had expected and is another sign that the sharp inflation experienced over recent years is continuing to moderate.
Whenever income tax is discussed, one misunderstanding appears again and again. "Once you move into a higher tax band, all your income is taxed at that higher rate." That is not how the UK tax system works.
The number of job vacancies in the UK has been falling quite sharply, and it is one of the clearest signs that the labour market is cooling after the extraordinary shortages seen after the pandemic. Falling vacancies do not automatically mean the economy is in recession.
The world oil market is once again approaching a level that brings back uncomfortable memories for households and businesses. With Brent crude oil recently touching around $94.66 a barrel and continuing to rise, the question being asked across energy markets is: Could oil return to $100 a barrel — and what would that mean for people in rural Scotland? For many households connected to the gas grid, higher oil prices may first appear as an increase in petrol, diesel and transport costs.
Thousands of households across rural Scotland depend on heating oil to keep warm. Unlike homes connected to the gas grid, they have little choice when oil prices rise sharply.
Every day brings another announcement of a new AI data centre, a vast offshore wind farm, a solar installation or a proposal for a new nuclear power station. Governments proudly speak of energy security, net zero and making their countries global leaders in artificial intelligence.