🌟Merry Christmas! Will you be eating Turkey today? Turkey still rules the roost at the Christmas dinner table, with 57% of Britons having it as part of their main meal. Source: YouGov Christmas Survey #ChartOfTheDay

TODAY on the Economics Observatory – What can Christmas dinner tell us about inflation? By Finn McEvoy

The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 3.75%, the lowest level since February 2023. The 0.25pp cut follows lower-than-expected CPI inflation of 3.2% in November. The BoE expects inflation to fall back towards its 2% target more quickly in the next 6 months. #ChartOfTheDay

🎄Where does your Christmas tree come from? The Norway spruce is by far the most popular variety, with over 8 million supplied to the UK in 2024. #ChartOfTheDay

The UK unemployment rate has risen to 5.1% — its highest level since January 2021. How does this compare with G7 peers? #ChartOfTheDay

TODAY on the Economics Observatory – UK higher education finance: what’s the problem and what can be done? By Gill Wyness, Richard Murphy

🥂 Will you be buying Prosecco this festive season? 🍾 While Aldi offers a bottle for £4.49, the cheapest bottle in Waitrose, Iceland, and the Co-op costs £7.50. #ChartOfTheDay

TODAY on the Economics Observatory – Why should we care about obesity? By Rachel Griffith @theifs.bsky.social

The world’s richest 0.001% (≈56,000 adults) hold 3× more wealth than the entire bottom 50% of the global population combined. New figures from the World Inequality Report @wid.world #ChartOfTheDay

In 2025, the UK government is estimated to spend 43.7% of GDP. How does today’s spending compare with the past — and with the rest of the G7? 👇 #ChartOfTheDay

37% of children in 3+ child families in the UK live in absolute poverty (after housing costs) – up 3pp since 2010. Child poverty has fallen for 1–2 child families, but it has risen for larger families. With the two-child benefit cap to be scrapped, will this change? #ChartOfTheDay

TODAY on the Economics Observatory – What has happened to child poverty in the UK over the last 30 years? By Lucinda Platt

🛡️ How does the G7 compare on defence innovation? The US is a clear outlier in defence R&D spending, spending 7x as much as the rest of the G7 combined. Excluding Washington, the UK emerges as one of the biggest G7 investors.

TODAY on the Economics Observatory – What do we know about the effects of military conscription? By @vincenzobove.bsky.social, Riccardo Di Leo, @mgiani.bsky.social

Eating less meat and dairy will almost certainly reduce emissions. What is less certain is where emissions will fall. 👇

NEW on the Economics Observatory – Will eating less meat and dairy reduce greenhouse gas emissions? By Tom Youngman @uwebristolofficial.bsky.social @inetoxford.bsky.social

🍫 Which foods have the worst environmental impact? Today’s #ChartOfTheDay plots foods by their nutritional and environmental impact scores. Beef and lamb stand out for their high environmental impact, while chocolate combines low nutrition with one of the biggest footprints.

JUST PUBLISHED – Will eating less meat and dairy reduce greenhouse gas emissions? By Tom Youngman @uwebristolofficial.bsky.social @inetoxford.bsky.social

As defence spending rises across Europe, how do countries compare with Russia? Today’s #ChartOfTheDay shows Russia spending more than any individual European country in 2024, while Poland leads Europe at 4.1% of GDP — the closest to the new 5% NATO target.

TODAY on the Economics Observatory – Global defence spending: What next for European military procurement? By Keith Hartley @york.ac.uk

🚨Economic Security in the Age of AI Conference 🚨 Join industry leaders, policymakers, and academics to explore how sovereign AI will shape economic power, national security, and global collaboration in the decades ahead. 📆 Tuesday 9 December 2025, 🎟️ See the full agenda and register here👇

TODAY on the Economics Observatory – The UK-US trade deal: what will be the effects? By James Collis

Today's #ChartOfTheDay shows average well-being scores for people at different income levels. Globally, it is estimated that doubling an individual's household income is associated with an increase of approximately 0.3 points on the 0-10 life satisfaction scale.

TODAY on the Economics Observatory –What can happen when economic policy-makers lose credibility? By @mcmahonecon.bsky.social

Resistance to antimicrobial drugs has eroded their effectiveness at combating infections. Economics can help to analyse the problem and develop policy solutions, including subscription payments for antimicrobials, incentives for pharmaceutical companies and reformulation of existing treatments. 👇

NEW on the Economics Observatory – The challenge of antimicrobial resistance: how can economists help? By @mcdonnell.bsky.social, Katherine Klemperer, Michael Sharland, Flavio Toxvaerd

Thriving creativity in the UK 🎭 UK creative services exports have grown by 167% since 2010, reaching a value of $100bn in 2023 – the fastest growth among G7 nations. #ChartOfTheDay

JUST PUBLISHED – The challenge of antimicrobial resistance: how can economists help? By @mcdonnell.bsky.social, Katherine Klemperer, Michael Sharland, Flavio Toxvaerd

How do AI skills compare across industries in the G7? 🤖 LinkedIn data show that in the UK, AI skill adoption is highest in the technology, information and media sector, and lowest in healthcare. #ChartOfTheDay

Today's #Budget extended the sugar tax (SDIL) to milk-based and coffee drinks. What's the likely impact on sugar intake? A thread 🧵👇 #ChartOfTheDay #SugarTax

The UK tax system creates marginal rates above 60% - even 100% for some parents. These spikes discourage work and growth, with high-earners cutting hours and boosting pensions. Smoothing these could boost growth without cutting revenue. #Budget2025 buff.ly/b8vlop5

NEW on the Economics Observatory – Growth Matters. Ahead of the Autumn Budget, this week's newsletter explores how to unlock economic growth in the UK. By James Collis

UK food inflation has recently picked back up – but the difference with the Euro Area is explainable. 🧵👇 #ChartOfTheDay #Budget

JUST PUBLISHED – Growth Matters. Ahead of the Autumn Budget, this week's newsletter explores how to unlock economic growth in the UK. By James Collis

JUST PUBLISHED - Can we explain why inflation in the UK is higher than in the Euro Area? By Swati Dhingra 👇 buff.ly/hZfOVqc

Nuclear power in the UK provides just over 12% of our electricity, but nuclear capacity has been steadily declining since 2000. #ChartOfTheDay

Last week, we were joined by Rt Hon @darrenpjones.bsky.social MP at the Festival of Economics for a great discussion on driving growth in the West of England and strengthening the wider UK economy. #economicsfest

The UK’s Industrial Strategy targets growth in 8 high-potential sectors. The UK’s position relative to comparator countries varies in each & there is room to accelerate growth in most cases. Across the board, continued investment in skills & innovation is needed to grasp the economic opportunities.

NEW on the Economics Observatory– How do the target sectors in the UK’s Industrial Strategy compare across the G7? By James Collis, Hannah Cantekin, Will Shepherd

JUST PUBLISHED – How do the target sectors in the UK’s Industrial Strategy compare across the G7? By James Collis, Hannah Cantekin, Will Shepherd

Over the past few years, artificial intelligence has exploded in popularity, power and potential. How this continuing trend affects the UK economy will depend on how both policy-makers and domestic firms respond to the development of new digital technologies. 👇

NEW on the Economics Observatory – The rise of artificial intelligence: What next for the UK economy? By Perspective Economics

Various adjustments to Britain’s tax and benefit system have created sharp spikes in marginal tax rates. Some families take home less than 40p of each extra pound they earn, blunting incentives to work or take promotions. 👇

Today's #ChartOfTheDay shows the significant role the UK has played in AI model development over the years. These strong development credentials contribute to the UK’s appeal as a destination for AI research, development and innovation.

JUST PUBLISHED – The rise of artificial intelligence: What next for the UK economy? By Perspective Economics

TODAY at the Festival of Economics: 💡 How can Britain rebuild opportunity for working-class men? 🇬🇧 What is the future for UK migration? 🎭 Do we still need artists in a generative AI world? Keep an eye out 👀 for recordings, and grab your tickets for the remaining sessions 👇

With the November Budget just a week away, the big question is: what happens to taxes? Today’s #ChartOfTheDay shows a stark flaw in the system— a clear spike in taxpayers reporting incomes just below £100k as people deliberately avoid crossing into the high-tax zone where marginal tax rates jump

NEW on the Economics Observatory - Why do some people in the UK face marginal tax rates of over 60%? By Jack Pepin-Hall of @centaxuk.bsky.social 👇

TODAY at the Festival of Economics: 🔎 How can we end the doom & gloom? ➗ Divided we stand: What explains growing ideological polarisation? 🛡️ Aid or defence: has something got to give? Keep an eye out 👀 for recordings of today’s sessions. 🎟️ Get your tickets for the remaining events now 👇

The Festival of Economics 2025 is officially underway! There's still time to join the conversation. Grab a ticket for this week's remaining events👇