Inflation stories

Festive food, drink and dining out delivered a surprise December spending lift, as households splurged ahead of Christmas gatherings.

IMS will power Motability’s new Drive Smart app, using telematics to monitor under-30s’ driving and help manage rising insurance costs.

Money has overtaken health, time and relationships as the main driver of life satisfaction in the UK, new research from Intuit shows.

CFOs bet big on AI to reshape finance, but a Kyriba survey shows trust is lagging as privacy and security fears intensify worldwide.

UK businesses are set to roll out agentic AI across tax and finance in 2026 as cost pressures force a reset on processes and investment.

YouTrip teams up with Agoda to offer Australians 7% off selected hotel bookings plus an AUD $10 bonus for new card sign-ups.

Klaviyo forecasts 2026 surge in AI voice shopping, automated returns and connected-device purchases reshaping how consumers buy.

Australian businesses are turning cost optimisation into a permanent strategic mandate, reshaping technology, talent and operations for efficiency.

Singapore retail investors back the global bull run into 2026 even as confidence at home in jobs, economy and living costs erodes.

JB Hi-Fi New Zealand lifts FY2025 revenue above NZD $396 million and slashes losses, yet remains short of a long-awaited return to profit.

Geopolitics, cyber threats and AI-linked fintech risks dominate DTCC’s latest systemic risk survey as firms brace for uncertainty into 2026.

US holiday shoppers to rein in festive spending as 60% say financial strain will curb gift budgets, new national survey data shows.

SOTI predicts AI, automation and on-device intelligence will overhaul how Australian retailers, logistics and healthcare manage mobility by 2026.

Tech founders Julie Collison and Emma O’Brien top Tide everywoman awards as women-led firms eye growth despite tough UK backdrop.

UK and Irish SME bosses fear a worsening economy yet still plan to ramp up investment, betting on AI, innovation and sales growth in 2026.

Cyber Monday online orders in the UK surged, running about 70% higher than Black Friday as shoppers held out for last-minute deals.

AI will move from hype to hard choices in finance in 2026, as firms juggle automation gains with surging cyber threats and cost pressures.

Australians are reshaping Boxing Day, prioritising essentials, thrift and online safety over impulse spending amid cost-of-living strain.

Boards enter 2026 pushing AI from experiments to governed, resilient systems as volatile economies demand proof of value and stability.

After a bruising 2025, falling inflation, rate cuts and small-cap strength are teeing up 2026 as the widest market rally in years.