6:37 am, January 21, 2026
Inflation expected to swing higher over more expensive plane tickets
UK inflation could have ticked higher last month, as the price of Christmas flights – which jumped by 30% – helped fuel price rises at the end of the year, economists have said.
Some economists are expecting the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation to have risen in December after falling sharply the previous month.
A consensus of economists have predicted that it will jump higher to 3.5% for last month, from 3.2% in November.
Re-joining EU customs union means losing benefit of trade deals, Reeves says
Re-joining the EU customs union would mean losing the benefit of new trade deals and is not on the cards, the chancellor has said, as she focuses on ‘breaking down barriers’ to trade.
The remarks come as Reeves announced plans for the UK to reimburse visa fees and fast-track applications for top international firms.
Asked if re-entering a customs union with the bloc was on the cards, she told Bloomberg TV: ‘No, it was very clear in our manifesto that we wouldn’t be re-joining the customs union, the single market, or bringing back free movement of labour.’
Dacia’s Sandero remains Europe’s best-selling car for second consecutive year
Dacia’s value-focused Sandero has remained Europe’s best-selling car for the second consecutive year.
New figures from the brand show that worldwide sales totalled 289,295, with one in 55 cars sold in Europe being a Sandero. In the retail market, it was one in 28 cars.
Priced from £14,765 in the UK, the Sandero was first launched here in 2013 with a price of £5,995, instantly making it the country’s most affordable new car. Since its launch more than a decade ago, Dacia has sold more than 260,000 vehicles in the UK.
The markets
Stocks fell sharply while the bond market creaked amid ongoing tension and increased rhetoric over the future of Greenland.
The FTSE 100 index closed down 68.57 points, 0.7%, at 10,126.78 on Tuesday. The FTSE 250 ended 153.94 points lower, 0.7%, at 22,957.87, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.35 points, 0.3%, at 801.14.
The pound was quoted higher at 1.3462 dollars at the time of the London equities close on Tuesday, compared to1.3428 dollars on Monday. The euro stood at 1.1733 dollars, higher against 1.1643 dollars. Against the yen, the dollar was trading at 157.95 yen, lower from 158.11 yen.
‘You’ll find out’: Trump’s answer on question of scope of plans for Greenland
Donald Trump has questioned whether Nato would come to the ‘rescue’of the US but played down the fallout from a rift with Europe over his threats to take control of Greenland.
The US president also said ‘you’ll find out’ when asked how far he was willing to go to acquire the island, which is a semi-autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark.
‘I think something’s going to happen that’s going to be very good for everybody,’ he said. ‘I think that we will work something out… Nato is going to be very happy and where we’re going to be very happy.’
New Chinese embassy approved despite warning security risks cannot be eliminated
Ministers have approved a new Chinese embassy in London despite intelligence agencies saying they cannot eliminate the risks to national security.
Local government secretary Steve Reed approved plans for the building at Royal Mint Court, near the Tower of London, on Tuesday.
Security minister Dan Jarvis told MPs he was ‘assured that the UK national security is protected’ and any risks posed by the new embassy were being ‘appropriately managed’.
Tuesday on Car Dealer
Dealer feedback is ‘very positive’ following 2025 launch, says Geely UK boss
Car dealers have given ‘very positive’ feedback about selling Geely’s new range of cars, its UK boss has said.
Life-sized silicone doll among oddest things left in vehicles at WeBuyAnyCar sites in 2025
Pet ashes, a life-sized silicone doll and a box of Halloween decorations. No, this is not the plot of some terrifying horror movie – these are just some of the bizarre items discovered in vehicles at WeBuyAnyCar over the last year.
Family-run T.C. Harrison becomes latest UK car dealer to sign up with Omoda and Jaecoo
Family-run business T.C. Harrison has become the latest dealer group to sign up with Omoda and Jaecoo as the Chinese brands continue their rapid UK growth.
All is ‘well’ for Park’s Motor Group as car dealer expands Nissan portfolio in Scotland
Park’s Motor Group has added to its portfolio of Nissan dealerships with the opening of a new site in Motherwell.
Weather
Early rain in the north and far east clears today, before rain in the far south spreads northwards, reaching southern Scotland by afternoon, reports BBC Weather. It will be breezy or windy throughout.
Tonight stays mostly cloudy with limited clear breaks in the south-west, scattered western showers, patchy eastern rain and steadier rain in north-east Scotland.
