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How has the immigration enforcement intensity of the second Trump administration changed from the first Trump administration? Arrests rose sharply at the outsets of both administrations, but arrests accelerated much more rapidly during the second administration. By October 2025, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency had arrested more than 200,000 people, nearly twice as many at the same point of the Trump administration’s first term.
Across the teams competing at this summer's World Cup, some teams skew taller and older than the rest. By confederation, nations from UEFA are the tallest, averaging nearly 2cm above than the next tallest confederation (OFC - Oceania) and 4cm above than the shortest (CONMEBOL - South America). By age, there is some divergence. Players from CONMEBOL are the oldest, averaging just shy of 29 years, while CAF (27.5 yrs) and EUFA (27.7 yrs) are the youngest.
As we go to the polls this Thursday, London's council elections are looking fiercely competitive. Labour is projected to hold most boroughs, but more than half will be decided by five points or less. Click here to read Tony Travers on London's 2026 council elections.
The Bank of England kept interest rates at 4% in September, with a 7–2 vote by the Monetary Policy Committee. Two members backed a cut to 3.75%, but sticky inflation — CPI held at 3.8% in July and August — kept the majority cautious. The MPC also slowed the pace of quantitative tightening (reducing the stock of government bonds it holds), trimming planned gilt sales from £100bn to £70bn over the next year. This follows concerns that the Bank's policy and rate of bond sales, unusually high by international standards, has been inflating bond yields and government borrowing costs. The next MPC decision is due 6th November 2025.
UK youth unemployment has nearly doubled since 2022. The unemployment rate for 16 to 24 year olds not in full-time education has risen from 7.6% to 14.6%, its highest since 2014 and above the COVID peak. A weakening labour market is hitting young people hardest.
As UK leadership turmoil deepens, gilts are again doing the disciplining: the 10Y yield jumped from 5.0% to over 5.18% today and has repeatedly broken above 5% this month. 10 year gilts haven't been at these levels since 2008. That leaves UK borrowing costs clearly detached from G7 peers, with political risk now amplifying inflation and global risk pressures.
Gold has climbed to an all‑time high today, rising past $ 3,500 per ounce amid growing expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut and a softer U.S. dollar. Click on the chart to read Philip Fliers on why gold is seen as a safe haven asset.
This chart shows an example of reductions in the costs of new technologies over time, highlighting the dramatic fall in the real cost of computer memory and storage over time. In the space of just a few decades, the cost of computer (random access) memory dropped exponentially, from hundreds of trillions of dollars per terabyte in the 1950s to around a thousand dollars per terabyte today.
Live election results for 136 borough, district, unitary and county council election.
Diesel is the one to watch for broader inflation, with prices rising more than gasoline amidst the ongoing Iran conflict. At $5.38 it's 93% of its all-time record – and nearly every goods delivery runs on it. California diesel is already at $6.87. Freight cost pressure is building fast.
Global cocoa prices are up almost 18% on last year, following dry weather across West Africa and the spread of a disease affecting cacao trees. Click on the chart to read more about food inflation from Finn McEvoy.
On Monday, April 28, 2025, Canadians will vote in a federal general election to elect members of the House of Commons to the 45th Canadian Parliament. ? Over the past five months, polls have shown a sharp reversal in fortunes. Once trailing significantly, the Liberal Party, led by Mark Carney, now maintains a narrow lead.
