Content Type
Blog Posts
An update on the GLA 2024-based demographic projections
Posted 7 days ago
This is a brief update on the timing of the upcoming release, what it will include, and some of the changes being introduced with the new projections. When will the projections be released? The projections will be published alongside the Draft London Plan and the London Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (our release is tied to these because the projections...
Is London’s cost of living pulling away from the UK average?
Posted 10 days ago
Londoners have long suspected that life in the capital costs more, but the gap depends very much on what is being bought. As explored below, two pints of milk cost about the same in London as the UK average. A pint in the pub, by contrast, costs around a quarter more. Childcare costs more still. This contrast reveals something important...
London's Economy Today editorial - May 2026
Posted 10 days ago
UK inflation drops in April The latest data on Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that it slowed to 2.8% in the 12 months to April 2026, down from 3.3% in March (Figure 1). The slowdown in CPI inflation was below that expected by surveyed analysts who had expected it to stand at 3%....
Green jobs and skills in London
Posted 18 days ago
Nearly half of all Londoners (46%) would be interested in training in order to take up a ‘green’ job, according to a recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey. The same survey showed that around 12% of working adults in London described any part of their main job as ‘green’, with around one-in-three of those workers ‘always’ or ‘often’ undertaking...
Rising unemployment and widening inequalities
Posted 19 days ago
Key Points: London’s unemployment rate has risen fast since the beginning of 2024, and remains higher than pre-pandemic levels, reflecting a prolonged period of labour market weakness. The data in this publication show that rising unemployment is increasingly concentrated in medium- and long-term joblessness, while those in work are finding it harder to move to different jobs. Traditionally marginalised groups...
London’s workforce exposure to generative artificial intelligence
Posted about 1 month ago
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is evolving quickly, with the potential to reshape London’s labour market. But its overall impact on employment remains uncertain. This supplement summaries the findings of recent GLA Economics research into the topic. Introduction How will artificial intelligence change London’s labour market? In a new GLA Economics Working Paper, ‘London’s workforce exposure to generative artificial intelligence’ we...
London's Economy Today editorial - April 2026
Posted about 1 month ago
The economic fallout from the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz continues Since the opening of hostilities between the US and Israel and Iran on 28 February the economic effects of this conflict have become more evident. Despite the announcement of a ceasefire on 7 April the Strait of Hormuz has remained severely restricted to shipping. Iran has maintained that...
The 2026 Spring Statement: Overview and Potential Implications for London
Posted 2 months ago
On 3rd March 2026 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, presented an update on the UK’s economic performance amidst growing national and international uncertainty. Concurrently, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published an update of its Economic and Fiscal Outlook[1]. This supplement summarises the key announcements made and potential implications for London’s economy. Growth, inflation and interest rates The...
London's Economy Today editorial - March 2026
Posted 2 months ago
Conflict in the Middle East triggers global commodities shock amid fears for the cost of living The US and Israel began attacks on Iran on 28 February. Iran has responded by attacking several countries around the Persian Gulf and elsewhere and declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed to most shipping. The Strait usually has around 20% of the world’s oil...
Unemployment in key charts: Young Londoners hit hardest by labour market slowdown
Posted 3 months ago
Background London’s unemployment rate rose to 7.5% in the last quarter of 2025 (non-seasonally adjusted). While London has historically seen higher unemployment than other parts of the United Kingdom, the gap was larger than usual (2.1 percentage points then in Q4 2025 compared to 0.5 percentage points in Q4 2019). That is despite the UK unemployment rate at the same...