Fuel and travel costs are pushing prices up again
Thursday 5 November 2026
Inflation has risen to 3.1%, meaning everyday spending is getting more expensive just as household budgets are already under pressure.
Labour force participation rate
The share of people in a stated age group who are either working or classed as unemployed.
What it means
The labour force consists of people with jobs and people counted as unemployed because they are seeking work and available to start. Divide that number by everyone in the age group being studied to get the participation rate, also called the economic activity rate. For UK working-age figures, that often means ages 16 to 64. The rate includes people looking for work, so it is higher than the employment rate when some people are unemployed. Always check the stated ages before comparing figures.
Example
Among 100 people aged 16 to 64, 75 have work, 5 are unemployed and 20 are economically inactive. The participation rate is 80%: 75 plus 5 out of 100.
Why it matters
It shows how many people are in work or looking for it, which an employment rate alone does not show.
Also known as
economic activity rate
Related terms
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Claimant count
The number of people claiming specified benefits linked to looking for work.
Read more -
Economic inactivity rate
The share of people in a stated age group who are neither working nor classed as unemployed.
Read more -
Employment rate
The share of people in a stated age group who are in work.
Read more -
Underemployment
When someone has work but would like and is available for more paid hours.
Read more -
Unemployment rate
The share of people in the labour force who have no job, are looking for one and are available to start.
Read more
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News
Highlights from about the UK economy, the UK government and the UK public sector.
Mortgage relief will have to wait a little longer
Wednesday 4 November 2026
Interest rates are staying at 3.75%, so households with mortgages and other borrowing may have to wait longer for costs to come down.
Energy bills are going up as winter approaches
Wednesday 4 November 2026
A higher energy price cap means many households will be paying more to heat and power their homes during the colder months.
Guides and insights
Analysis
Clear, accessible analysis of the economic issues shaping everyday life
Living standards
What does a day’s work buy?
Comparing the cost of everyday life across generations, from bread and beer to buying a home.
Food & prices
The journey behind your grocery bill
How farming, energy, transport and supermarket competition shape the price on the shelf.
Prices & inflation
Inflation is falling. What happens next?
What slower price rises mean for wages, purchasing power and economic recovery.
Shared prosperity
What would shared prosperity look like?
Beyond GDP: how we could measure economic success through security, opportunity and living standards.
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