Business & Economy
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Business & Economy Budget 2026: a £100 energy payment, cheaper electricity and fuel duty frozen. What it means for you in Kent
No rise in income tax, National Insurance or VAT rates, a £100 energy payment for many households, cheaper electricity and fuel duty…
28 October 2026 -
Business Read Budget 2026: energy help, a savings tax rise and a new authority for Kent and Medway as Healey meets his rules with less room
Chancellor John Healey’s first Budget absorbs £14 billion a year of extra debt interest without broad tax rises, adds energy help, raises…
28 October 2026 -
Business & Economy Budget day: what is already decided for your pay, fuel and home, and what to watch
Chancellor John Healey’s first Budget is on Wednesday. What is already settled for your tax, fuel and home, what the government has…
27 October 2026 -
Business Read Budget 2026: the numbers waiting for Chancellor John Healey on Wednesday
Borrowing is running £6 billion above forecast, gilt yields hit their highest since 2007 this month and inflation has climbed to 3.5%. The…
27 October 2026 -
Business & Economy North Sea oil, Part 2: who pays? Tax, bills, climate and Kent
Ministers say new North Sea licences would not cut bills; critics say Britain is giving away jobs, tax and security while importing more…
27 October 2026 -
Business & Economy North Sea oil, Part 1: can Britain turn the taps back on?
UK North Sea output is 75% below its 1999 peak. In the first of two parts, Kent Local News sets out what has closed, what is left, what the…
23 October 2026 -
Business & Economy Can America grow its way out of $40 trillion of debt? Why Washington’s bet is already reaching Kent
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says 3% growth will “bend the curve” on a $40 trillion debt and wants the rest of the world to follow…
12 October 2026 -
Business & Economy UK mortgage approvals fall to lowest level since 2023 as borrowing costs climb
Bank of England figures show 54,918 mortgages approved for house purchases in August, the fewest since December 2023, as rates on new loans…
10 October 2026 -
Business & Economy Otham salon in a pod on a smallholding placed second in the UK for best home salon
Karis Petersen runs Karistyle single-handed among the sheep and chickens near Maidstone. Next month she is a finalist in three categories…
10 September 2026 -
Business & Economy New IEEE Wi-Fi Sensing Standard Paves Way for Routers That Detect Movement Through Walls
A new IEEE standard allows ordinary Wi-Fi routers to detect movement through walls. With commercial products expected in 2026, the…
22 March 2026