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Scotland's unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in the three months to March 2025, an increase of 0.5 percentage points from the previous quarter, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

Firms have reported that increased global economic uncertainty, particularly related to US tariff announcements, is significantly impacting demand across various regions. The Royal Bank of Scotland Growth Tracker – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the comb

Susan Nightingale discusses the positive trends in financial investment and support for smaller businesses in Scotland, highlighting their resilience and vital contribution to the nation's economy. Smaller businesses are the lifeblood of Scotland’s economy. Firms employing fewer than 50 employ

First Minister John Swinney has set out the SNP Government's new Programme for Government, outlining several of financial commitments aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures and fostering a more supportive business environment in Scotland. For businesses, the First Minister pledged no further diver

Almost 10 million people, and rising, in the UK are spending more than they earn every month, according to a new monthly economic pulse launched by Edinburgh-based Smart Data Foundry (SDF). The figures appear in the Economic Nowcast released by Smart Data Foundry, Edinburgh’s "data for good" p

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) has written to First Minister John Swinney calling for a Programme for Government that puts economic growth and energy pragmatism at its core. In a detailed submission ahead of the policy agenda’s publication on Wednesday, the chamber –

Aberdeen Group experienced client withdrawals totalling £5.2 billion during the first quarter of 2025, driven by market volatility and a significant £4.2bn redemption from its largest client – Phoenix Group. This contributed to a decrease in assets under management (AuM) from &poun

Lloyds Banking Group has reported a 7% fall in pre-tax profits to £1.52 billion for the first quarter, despite a 4% increase in net income to £4.39bn. The decline was primarily driven by higher costs and increased impairment charges for potential bad debts.

Edinburgh has the most productive retail floorspace of any major UK city outside of London, with Glasgow close behind, as Scotland’s two largest cities continue to demonstrate their attractiveness as retail destinations, according to Knight Frank.

The accountancy profession has an increasingly critical role to play in setting the standard for ethical behaviour in business, according to a new ethical leadership insights series from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). ICAS conducted in-depth interviews with a selection of

Household bill arrears among StepChange Scotland clients have surged to an average of £5,193, according to the charity’s newly published 2024 Scotland in the Red report, marking a staggering 65% increase from £3,147 in 2023. Nearly seven in ten (68%) of those seeking help from Step

The EY ITEM Club has downgraded its GDP growth expectations for 2025 to 0.8%, down from the 1% predicted in February’s Winter Forecast, and has revised its 2026 forecast down from 1.6% to 0.9%. While the start of 2025 appeared to show economic momentum building, the weaker global economy and m

New figures show the total reported amount lost to fraud reached £2.3bn in 2024, according to a freedom of information request by RSM UK to Action Fraud. Total reported fraud losses increased 6% to £2,255,491,192 in 2024, from £2,115,281,935 the previous year as fraudsters become i

Johnston Carmichael has appointed Rachel Jones, founder of online brand protection specialist SnapDragon, and Elizabeth Pirrie, CEO of AccelerateHER, to its Tech Advisory Board. The pair join a distinguished group of independent experts, who provide strategic guidance to support Johnston Carmichael&

Scotland's business landscape is characterised by flatlining demand, stalled investment, and significant cost pressures, according to the latest Quarterly Economic Indicator (QEI) from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) and the Fraser of Allander Institute. Taxation has emerged as the number on