According to the latest survey from the British Retail Consortium, consumer spending still went up in September, but at a much slower rate than in August. People were unnerved by fuel shortages apparently. How much worse might this month be as people start to worry about their rocketing energy bills?

Money Week

Rising inflation driven by a stronger economy might mean higher interest rates, but it should also mean better corporate revenues and profits. Costs (raw materials prices and wages) might rise for companies but productivity gains and increased sales might offset this.

But if you get both inflation and a weaker economy, also known as stagflation, that’s the worst of all worlds. The world’s central banks will struggle to deal with that problem, because it’s theoretically not meant to happen.

Money Week

Small Modular Reactors (SMEs) are a possible solution. How- relatively simple, proven technology, can be manufactured in factories and built on site, safer than current power stations, occupy little land and have little impact on the landscape, not weather dependent plus many others. What are your thoughts?

Dominic Frisby from MoneyWeek

A statement by the People’s Bank of China said that all cryptocurrencies, including both tether and bitcoin, do not represent fiat currency and cannot be traded on the market. China’s government will “resolutely clamp down on virtual currency speculation, and related financial activities and misbehaviour in order to safeguard people’s properties and maintain economic, financial and social order,” it said.

Saloni Sardana from MoneyWeek