Inflation held at 2.8%: what SMEs should watch on transport, food and margins
UK CPI inflation stayed at 2.8% in May, but the detail matters for small firms: transport inflation rose sharply while food and household-related costs eased.
HMRC phases in payrolling benefits in kind: what small employers should prepare for
HMRC says mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind will now be phased in from April 2027, giving small employers more time to prepare payroll data, software and staff processes.
AI fraud warning: what small businesses should tighten now
UK Finance says payment fraud reached £1.28 billion in 2025, with authorised fraud losses rising sharply. Small businesses should treat AI-enabled scams as an operational risk, not just a consumer problem.
HMRC minimum wage checks: what small employers should review now
HMRC has updated its employer factsheet on National Minimum Wage checks, making this a useful moment for small firms to review pay records, working time and underpayment risk.
UK-Japan investment deal: what SMEs should watch for
The UK-Japan investment package points to opportunities in clean energy, technology, infrastructure and life sciences, but small firms should watch for practical supply-chain routes rather than headlines alone.
April GDP dip: what small businesses should watch now
April’s GDP dip is a useful prompt for small firms to check demand, cash flow and customer behaviour, especially in retail, services and local B2B markets.
New regional trade data gives SME exporters a planning check for 2026
HMRC’s Q1 2026 regional trade in goods statistics give product-based SMEs a fresh benchmark for exports, imports and business-count trends across the UK.
CMA Ryanair investigation: the pricing lesson for small businesses
The CMA’s Ryanair family seating investigation is a reminder for SMEs to show unavoidable fees clearly and early, especially in online booking and checkout journeys.
Late payment reform moves forward: what SMEs should check now
The Commercial Payments Bill has passed its second reading debate in the Lords. Small firms should use the moment to review payment terms, debtor records and credit control before late payment rules change.
Temporary VAT cut for children’s meals and attractions: what small firms should check before 25 June
HMRC has set out a temporary 5% VAT rate for qualifying children’s meals and selected family attractions from 25 June to 1 September 2026. Hospitality, leisure and visitor economy SMEs should check tills, pricing and accounting treatment before it starts.