Get the facts on the economy

Fact checks about the economy, covering levels of inequality, prices, taxation, employment, unemployment and housing across the UK nations and regions

Get the facts on… Inequality in the UK Jobs and work Brexit

Comparing UK regions

fact checks related to reporting of differences between UK nations and regions including council tax and leveling up funding

Debt and deficit

Fact checks related to policies of austerity and public and national debt

Homes

Fact checks related to house prices, the number of new homes built, landlords and private renting

Brexit

Fact checks looking at the impact and reported impact of brexit on the UK economy

The government’s numbers on savings for wine drinkers don’t add up
2 August 2021

The government estimated its new imports policy will save wine drinkers £130 million. An industry body puts the figure at around £30 million.

Did EU exports really drop 68% in January?
17 February 2021

There is other evidence that trade did not fall this much and it may have been driven by stockpiling before January and Covid.

How to check claims about tariffs and trade
17 December 2020

Knowing which tariffs to pay and what rules to follow is vital for businesses. Misinformation about tariff rates can be used to mislead the public. Here’s how to understand what’s …

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Inequality in the UK

Fact checks focused on homelessness, poverty, inequality and social mobility

Jobs and work

fact checks related to the employment rate, unemployment, pensions and the gender pay gap

The economy fact checks

Boris Johnson claim about HGV driver visas sparks confusion
8 October 2021

The Prime Minister told a BBC journalist that 127 HGV drivers had applied for short-term visas. But the government’s bizarrely refused to explain how that figure is calculated.

How much do firefighters, paramedics and police officers earn?
6 October 2021

An old viral post with almost 50,000 shares is now out of date.

Angela Rayner wrong on wage growth
6 October 2021

Labour’s deputy leader claimed the average worker is £1,000 a year worse off now than in 2010 but this is compared to 2020, not 2021.

See all the economy fact checks

Prices

Fact checks related to the economy in the UK, spending, house prices, public transport, and inflation measures such as the CPI and RPI

Scotland's economy

fact checks related to the scottish economy, taxation and spending

Tax dodging

Fact checks focused on tax evasion, avoidance and offshore accounts

The government's role in the economy

Fact checks related to national economic programmes including leveling up, the New Deal and nationalisation

Transport

Fact Checks related to transport, including public transport, airport expansion, HS2, rail fares and ticket prices

Universal Credit

fact checks around claims made and misinformation about the Universal Credit programme

Welfare

Fact checks related to the welfare of the country, the welfare state, state spending, poverty and pensions