Feels relevant again this morning 👇

UK supermarkets have doubled their profit margins on fuel sales since 2017, according to data from the Competition and Markets Authority... www.gov.uk/government/n...

Interesting that Rachel Reeves in her economy speech referenced public sector net debt when she said it's at £2.9 trillion/95% of GDP - her fiscal rules are targetting a different (lower) measure of the national debt called "public sector net financial liabilities".... www.gov.uk/government/s...

We're told that downgrades to official productivity growth forecasts spell tax rises in the forthcoming Budget. But why? My BBC online explainer 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Lots of talk about new tax rises this morning in the wake of Rachel Reeves’ speech If you want a fresh, stand back, Radio 4 series on this subject 👇

ICYMI You can listen to the third and final part of my Radio 4 series on the UK's Tax Conundrum here 🎧👇 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Listen now on Radio 4 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Coming up on BBC Radio 4 and on BBC Sounds at 11am - the third and final episode of The Tax Conundrum. Do we - in the end - get the tax system we deserve? Or is a better way possible? Listen here 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Scott Bessent says China has pledged to buy 12m tonnes of US soybeans this year and a minimum of 25m tonnes a year for the next 3 years. Are those big numbers?... www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The latest Index of Multiple Deprivation for England has been released today. My Verify colleagues have built this handy online tool to enable you to look up where your area ranks 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Bet you never thought that a discussion about whether marshmallows are eaten with fingers would form part of what is the start of an interesting @benchu.bsky.social Radio 4 series “The Tax Conundrum”…but that’s what you get in Episode 1 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Nice review of my Radio 4 series The Tax Conundrum in The Times "I became hypnotised by the ins and outs of the tax status of marshmallows" writes @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social... 👇 www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-r...

Waiting to go on Newsnight to talk about what the Trump/Xi summit means for global trade! @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social BBC2 /iPlayer now

Listen to IFS Director @helenmiller.bsky.social on the 'Tax Conundrum', a three-part series from @benchu.bsky.social on why the UK tax system has become such a mess and what difference that makes: ⬇️

In case you missed Episode 2 of The Tax Conundrum on Radio 4 - where I explore what the UK could learn from other countries' tax systems - you can listen back here on BBC Sounds... 🎧👇 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

In case you missed Episode 2 of The Tax Conundrum on Radio 4 - where I explore what the UK could learn from other countries' tax systems - you can listen back here on BBC Sounds... 🎧👇 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

On now on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds - part 2 of The Tax Conundrum 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Coming up very shortly on Radio 4 - part 2 of my 3 part series on the UK tax system - The Tax Conundrum! Part 2 looks at what the UK could learn from abroad when it comes to tax. On Radio 4 and BBC Sounds at 11am 📻 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

About to speak to Paddy O’Connell on Broadcasting House on BBC Radio 4 about how much asylum seekers receive in UK state support - and how that compares to other EU countries’ systems #BroadcastingHouse

I doubt if any tax theory has age as a criterion. Surely the key word is "well-off" whether pensioners or not. And just in case anyone thinks tax is simple, @benchu.bsky.social has a 3-part series on why it isn't. Judging by Part 1, highly recommended. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/serie...

Why do we seem to find it so hard to have a rational conversation about how MUCH we pay in tax and HOW we pay it? I'm exploring that in a new 3 part series for BBC Radio 4. Episode 1 of The Tax Conundrum available here 🎧👇... www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Starting now on BBC Radio 4 👇

Pleased to see "The Tax Conundrum" is radio pick of the day in the i paper and the Daily Mail 👇

Today at 11am "The Tax Conundrum" starts on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds Ahead of what will be another tax raising budget I ask in this new 3 part series why we seem to find it so hard to have a rational conversation about how MUCH we pay in tax and HOW we pay it... 📻🎧 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Tomorrow "The Tax Conundrum" starts on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds Ahead of what will be another tax raising budget on 26 November I ask in this 3 part series why we seem to find it so hard to have a rational conversation about how MUCH we pay in tax and HOW we pay it... www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

📣 My book “Exile Economics” is coming out in paperback in March 2026 & you can get it for 25% less than the £12.99 retail price if you pre-order through Waterstones by the end of this Friday💸 Click below and enter “OCTOBER25” at the checkout 👇 #WPreorder www.waterstones.com/book/exile-e...

📣 My book “Exile Economics” is coming out in paperback in March 2026 & you can get it for 25% less than the £12.99 retail price if you pre-order through Waterstones by the end of this Friday💸 Click below and enter “OCTOBER25” at the checkout 👇 #WPreorder www.waterstones.com/book/exile-e...

Exile Economics: What Happens if Globalisation Fails by Ben Chu – Why the benefits of global trade are at risk

The latest average monthly wage data means the UK state pension will rise by at least 4.7% next year under the Triple Lock. The lock is supposed to protect and boost the real income of pensioners. But it’s worth noting that pensioners - as a group - are not as poor as they used to be...🧵 1/11

The latest average monthly wage data means the UK state pension will rise by at least 4.7% next year under the Triple Lock. The lock is supposed to protect and boost the real income of pensioners. But it’s worth noting that pensioners - as a group - are not as poor as they used to be...🧵 1/11

"This work will help the reader better understand why the global economy stands at such a critical juncture – how we got here and what is at risk." Review of my book Exile Economics by Irish Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe in The Irish Times 👇 www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

Has Israel's war in Gaza been proportionate? Comprehensive analysis of this question by Verify colleagues 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Do Reform's economic/financial plans add up? Claims on: - the costs of net zero - taxes - spending - cutting waste My analysis for BBC website 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Reform UK is seeking to maintain the momentum it has gathered since the general election. BBC Verify has examined what we know - and don't know - about the party’s aspirations when it comes to taxation, spending and borrowing. Reporting by @benchu.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Do Reform's economic/financial plans add up? Claims on: - the costs of net zero - taxes - spending - cutting waste My analysis for BBC website 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Home Secretary is focusing today on students who go on to claim asylum. Home Office data shows the numbers of asylum seekers who were previously issued with a student visa are up in recent years, to 14,800 in the year to June, though some signs of a peak...

How many illegal immigrants are living in the UK? Are they put up in ‘four star hotels’? Are phones and iPads provided? Following comments made by Rylan Clark, BBC Verify Policy Correspondent Ben Chu goes through the data and information for #Newsnight

Back in the Newsnight studio with Paddy O’Connell to talk about immigration - perceptions and fact Join us at 1030pm on BBC2 and iPlayer

President Trump has suggested this week that wind power is the reason for rising energy bills in the UK. What does the evidence say? My explainer 👇... www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Some context for the headlines about rising plastic bag use in England - yes there was a rise in the most recent data for 2024-25, but it's still below 2021-22 levels and *far* fewer bags are sold than a decade ago...

On The World This Weekend today: the costs & benefits of offshore wind. 💨💸🔌 The government says wind will bring household electricity bills down. 📉 Reform & Tories say it will push them up. 📈 We’ll be talking to energy experts to find out where the truth lies. 1pm on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds 📻

Listen to my conversation with the marvellous Stephanie Flanders from @bloomberg.com on the themes of my new book “Exile Economics: What Happens If Globalisation Fails” 🎧👇 pca.st/episode/9a17...

"When the BBC approached councils, the info we were provided about the condition and reason for homes being empty covered only around 13% of their [long-term empty housing] stock." Remarkable stat from my colleague Gerry Georgieva's empty homes investigation... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Listen to my conversation with the marvellous Stephanie Flanders from @bloomberg.com on the themes of my new book “Exile Economics: What Happens If Globalisation Fails” 🎧👇 pca.st/episode/9a17...

Does the UK still have the fastest growth rate in the G7 after today's Q2 2025 data? Not on a quarter-on-quarter basis - the US grew faster in Q2. But if you annualise growth rates over Q1 and Q2 the answer is possibly (2% vs 1.2% in the US). Note: we don't yet have data from Japan for Q2...

What's driven 50,000 small boat crossings under Labour? My Sounds explainer 🎧👇 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Conservatives have accused the government of a "cover up" of the true costs of the Chagos deal with Mauritius, and of using an "accounting trick". Here's some context 👇

How much is the Chagos deal *really* going to cost the UK? £3.4bn or £35bn? 💵 This is a complex one - but worth unpacking. Longish thread..🧵1/22

How much is the Chagos deal *really* going to cost the UK? £3.4bn or £35bn? 💵 This is a complex one - but worth unpacking. Longish thread..🧵1/22

On The World This Weekend at 1pm on Radio 4 we're taking a deep dive into the broken Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system in England. The Government has promised a White Paper in the Autumn to fix it. But what should be in it? Join us at 1pm on Radio 4 & BBC Sounds 📻 🎧