This has been a more than usually bad-tempered election campaign. We are going to press just as it ends, so as I write, I'm afraid I still don't know what the outcome is. However, here's what we do know: regardless of who has how many seats in Parliament this morning, they are starting in a pretty good place. Yes, we still have a budget deficit, and yes, all the party promises of more, more and then a little more spending during the campaign were uncomfortable. But nonetheless, the work done over the last decade has seen the budget deficit as a percentage of GDP fall to a mere 1.2% by last March. Practically balanced.
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Government launches full review of parental leave and pay – what could it mean for you?The government wants parental leave to be fairer - will its shake-up fix the widespread problem for families?
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Nationwide: House prices see biggest monthly fall in over two yearsUK house prices dropped by 0.8% in June, according to Nationwide. We reveal the top-performing and worst-performing regions
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Beating inflation takes more luck than skill – but are we about to get lucky?Opinion The US Federal Reserve managed to beat inflation in the 1980s. But much of that was down to pure luck. Thankfully, says Merryn Somerset Webb, the Bank of England may be about to get lucky.
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How capitalism has been undermined by poor governanceEditor's letter Capitalism’s “ruthless efficiency” has been undermined by poor governance, a lack of competition and central banks’ over-enthusiastic money printing, says Andrew Van Sickle.
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What companies should be prioritising this decadeEditor's letter In a world beset by uncertainty, companies should be prioritising slack over efficiency, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
