The economy

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

25 November 2022

How much of the rise in ‘economic inactivity’ is due to long Covid?

A BBC news bulletin claimed a recent rise in the number of people who are neither working nor looking for work is “largely because of long Covid”. But there are …

How much of the rise in ‘economic inactivity’ is due to long Covid?

18 November 2022

BBC graph showing impact of Autumn Statement contains several errors

A graph shown on the BBC News at Six contained, among other things, an inaccurate figure and a mislabelled axis.

BBC graph showing impact of Autumn Statement contains several errors

15 November 2022

MailOnline muddles up cost of a possible rise in council tax

If council tax rises by 5%, it would cost households in an average band D property about £100 more per year—not per month.

MailOnline muddles up cost of a possible rise in council tax

3 November 2022

‘New’ UK trade deals don’t account for ‘over £800 billion worth of new global trade’

Michael Gove tweeted a graphic claiming the UK has signed new trade deals with more than 70 countries, worth over £800 billion in new global trade. But the majority of …

‘New’ UK trade deals don’t account for ‘over £800 billion worth of new global trade’

2 November 2022

No evidence for Rishi Sunak’s claim about ‘record’ number of new homes built

At last week’s PMQs, the new Prime Minister claimed a record number of new homes were built in the last year—but we’ve not found any evidence to support this.

No evidence for Rishi Sunak’s claim about ‘record’ number of new homes built

1 November 2022

UK Government doesn’t retain £50bn of Scottish taxes

Posts on social media overcount and double count Scottish revenues while undercounting Scottish expenditure.

UK Government doesn’t retain £50bn of Scottish taxes

26 October 2022

How the media misreported the '£2,500 energy bill cap'

Our analysis using Full Fact’s AI media-monitoring software has found more than 100 potentially misleading claims about the government’s Energy Price Guarantee—which is a cap on prices, not bills.

How the media misreported the '£2,500 energy bill cap'

21 October 2022

The facts around former PMs’ £115,000 annual ‘allowance’

They are allowed to claim back up to £115,000 each year for the costs associated with continuing public duties—but it’s not a “salary”.

The facts around former PMs’ £115,000 annual ‘allowance’

17 October 2022

Bank of England did not sell £80 billion in gilts shortly before mini-Budget

Sir Iain Duncan Smith claimed the Bank of England sold ‘some £80 billion in gilts’ around the time of the mini-budget announcement on 23 September. This didn’t happen.

Bank of England did not sell £80 billion in gilts shortly before mini-Budget

14 October 2022

Is government plan to cap revenues of renewable electricity generators a windfall tax?

Jacob Rees-Mogg strenuously denied that the new government policy proposal is a windfall tax during an appearance on the Today programme.

Is government plan to cap revenues of renewable electricity generators a windfall tax?

The economy

How much of the rise in ‘economic inactivity’ is due to long Covid?

BBC graph showing impact of Autumn Statement contains several errors

MailOnline muddles up cost of a possible rise in council tax

‘New’ UK trade deals don’t account for ‘over £800 billion worth of new global trade’

No evidence for Rishi Sunak’s claim about ‘record’ number of new homes built

UK Government doesn’t retain £50bn of Scottish taxes

How the media misreported the '£2,500 energy bill cap'

The facts around former PMs’ £115,000 annual ‘allowance’

Bank of England did not sell £80 billion in gilts shortly before mini-Budget

Is government plan to cap revenues of renewable electricity generators a windfall tax?

Full Fact fights bad information