#budget-uncertainty

#budget-uncertainty

Activity in the UK's construction sector shrank last month at the fastest pace since the pandemic, partly due to uncertainty ahead of the Budget, a closely watched survey has indicated. The research from S&P Global said November saw the steepest fall in output for five-and-a-half years, led by a downturn in infrastructure and housebuilding. It added that commercial construction also faced "severe headwinds" last month as concerns over possible Budget measures "pushed clients to defer investment decisions".

The National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health doled out about as much total grant funding in the recently ended fiscal year as they did the year before, despite the Trump administration's "unprecedented" earlier slowdown of federal science funding, Science reported Wednesday. According to the journal'sanalysis, "NSF committed approximately $8.17 billion to grants, fellowships, and other funding mechanisms in the 2025 fiscal year"-which ended Sept. 30-"about the same as in 2024." It found that NIH spending also remained level.

The employment rate came in at 75.0% in the three months to September, versus 75.1% in August. Unemployment came in at 5.0%, in September, versus 4.8% in August and market expectations of 4.9% and economic Inactivity in the three months to September came in at 21.0%. Annual total earnings growth came in at 4.8%, versus 5.0% in the previous three-month period, and market expectations of 4.9%.

The proposal to reintroduce horse-mounted police in San Jose was shelved by the City Council amid concerns over budget uncertainties and ongoing costs.