Inevitably, there are already arguments that the Chancellor should cut welfare spending instead of raising taxes tomorrow. But is welfare spending really 'out of control'?

Here's the facts:
www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/is-w...

Quarterly trade data out this morning. Goods exports were down 0.7% compared to Q2, with weak USA exports certainly contributing. In addition, services trade growth seems to have slowed, with growth of just 0.2%.

Research from Yale Budget Lab looks at the impact of US tariffs. As expected, it finds the UK does relatively well. But it goes further suggesting the UK economy will be about 0.1% larger in the long run.
budgetlab.yale.edu/research/sta...

Research showing rising US wealth inequality across age groups: the wealth of households aged 75 and over increased from 5 percent above the overall average in 1983 to 16 percent above it in 2007, then continued to rise to 55 percent above by 2022.
www.nber.org/papers/w34131

Monthly trade data for August showed a fall in goods exports, flat goods imports and some services trade growth. A very brief look at the trends in the data below:

Exciting news: I’m back from maternity leave👶and so I'm diving straight in with today’s July 2025 trade data release. But after a few months away, I’ll also step back to see how trade has evolved so far this year.

Still a week left to apply for this fantastic opportunity to work at the Resolution Foundation!

🚨 New Research🚨

In the sixth Intergenerational Audit for the UK, part of the @ConnectingGens research programme, @mollybroome.bsky.social , @sophiehale.bsky.social and @hannahslaughter.bsky.social evaluate the economic importance of intergenerational exchanges.

➡️ https://buff.ly/4hYPPb9

Enjoyed working on this “inter generational audit” with @hannahslaughter.bsky.social @sophiehale.bsky.social & @mollybroome.bsky.social

The role of extended families in care, money & housing is increasing, but also increasingly strained

www.resolutionfoundation.org/app/uploads/...

‼️New report out today 'Trading blows' with @sophiehale.bsky.social

We reflect on the UK's trade landscape post-Brexit and Covid - e.g. that exports of some highly regulated professional services – like accounting & tax, engineering, and legal – are growing slower than the average service sector.

🚨🚨 I know there has been a lot of #brexit posting today but this is another truly fascinating @resfoundation.bsky.social report by @sophiehale.bsky.social & @emilyfry.bsky.social with the ominous title "Trading Blows". Key insights are worth restating 🧵
www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...

🚨🚨 Brexit is ‘stifling’ exports and imports". Report by economists at Aston University finds that the EU-UK TCA has led to ‘profound and ongoing’ impact on goods flow. Great write-up by @pmdfoster.bsky.social of solid research on the negative effects of #brexit on trade. 🧵
www.ft.com/content/21b2...

Monthly ONS July trade data weak with monthly trade volumes down by 2.6%, driven by particularly weak monthly export volume of goods. A short thread.