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… Tax dodging Universal Credit Debt and deficit

Tax dodging

Fact checks focused on tax evasion, avoidance and offshore accounts

Universal Credit

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

Debt and deficit

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

Latest the economy fact checks

House prices haven’t fallen to a 14-year low
7 September 2023

A since-deleted post from the Daily Telegraph wrongly claimed house prices had fallen to “14-year lows”.

What do the latest wage growth figures actually show?
21 August 2023

Contrasting claims about wage growth have been made on social media following the release of new data.

Around 60% of people in poverty live in households where at least one adult is in work
17 August 2023

Dame Angela Eagle claimed 60% of people in poverty are in work. This isn't quite right. The percentage of working age adults who are in relative poverty and who are …

See all the economy fact checks

Comparing UK regions

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

Prices

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

Inequality in the UK

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

Welfare

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

Homes

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

The government's role in the economy

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

Brexit

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

Scotland's economy

Fact checks related to the scottish economy, taxation and spending

Jobs and work

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

Transport

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