News in Review Wednesday 26th August 2026
Annual UK inflation rate 2.9% in July, consumer confidence improves, boost in business activity and rise in financial anxiety.
Key takeaways:
- Inflation rate rise largely attributed to Ofgem’s raised price cap, which has driven up the average energy bill
- According to the British Retail Consortium, expectations for the economy over the next three months have risen
- NatWest’s Growth Tracker confirms business activity increased across most of the UK at the start of Q3

