70,000 UK small businesses just stopped paying business rates. Meanwhile, America's central bank refused to cut interest rates, and Microsoft is spending $500 million a day on AI while paying staff to leave.
This is the week in business: the five stories you need to know if you run a business, whether you're in London, Leeds, Los Angeles or anywhere in between. Plain English, no jargon, and you won't need an economics degree to understand why they matter.
This week:
1. UK Budget 2026 – what John Healey's first Budget means for small businesses, from business rates to the minimum wage
2. AI job cuts – Meta and Microsoft cut thousands of jobs while spending record amounts on AI
3. Oil hits $115 a barrel – why it's coming for your costs, even if you never buy oil
4. The Fed holds rates – why cheaper borrowing isn't coming any time soon
5. Trump's Canada tariff shuffle – tariffs off plywood, on canoes and coffins, days before the midterms
And finally… dog news: Americans spend $1 billion dressing up their pets for Halloween.
After every story, I break down what it means for you and what to do next.
Which one is hitting your business hardest right now: energy costs, borrowing costs or tariffs? Tell me in the comments.
CHAPTERS
00:00 This week in business
00:36 UK Budget 2026 explained for small businesses
03:02 Meta & Microsoft AI job cuts
05:02 Oil price hits $115: what it means for your costs
06:06 Fed holds interest rates
07:37 Trump's Canada tariff changes before the midterms
09:37 Dog news: $1bn on pet Halloween costumes
10:28 Weekly recap & what you can control
