https://outputgap.com/2026-08-20https://outputgap.com/share-home.svg https://outputgap.com/news/us-national-debt-surpasses/2026-08-20https://outputgap.com/share-us-national-debt-surpasses.svgUS National Debt Surpasses $40 Trillion, Doubling in a DecadeThe US national debt has reached a milestone $40 trillion, more than doubling in a decade due to heavy spending under both the Trump and Biden administrations. (Source: bbc.co.uk) https://outputgap.com/news/accountant-turns-ice-cream/2026-08-20https://outputgap.com/share-accountant-turns-ice-cream.svgAccountant Turns to Ice Cream EntrepreneurshipVivien Wong shares her journey from a £80,000-a-year accounting job to starting her own ice cream business, Little Moons, with her brother. (Source: bbc.co.uk) https://outputgap.com/news/trump-threatens-economic-consequences/2026-08-20https://outputgap.com/share-trump-threatens-economic-consequences.svgTrump Threatens Economic Consequences for Countries Helping IranUS President Donald Trump has warned countries that help or do business with Iran of 'tremendous economic consequences'. (Source: bbc.co.uk) https://outputgap.com/news/uk-inflation-reaches-four/2026-08-19https://outputgap.com/share-uk-inflation-reaches-four.svgUK Inflation Reaches Four-Month High Due to Energy Bill JumpThe UK's inflation rate has risen to 2.9% in the year to July, driven by a sharp increase in energy bills, with gas prices soaring at their fastest pace in almost four years. (Source: bbc.co.uk) https://outputgap.com/news/inflation-concerns-amid-global/2026-08-19https://outputgap.com/share-inflation-concerns-amid-global.svgInflation Concerns Amid Global UncertaintyRising energy bills and food costs have sparked concerns about inflation, but economists believe it is unlikely to reach crisis levels (Source: bbc.co.uk) https://outputgap.com/news/cma-investigates-trainline-virgin/2026-08-19https://outputgap.com/share-cma-investigates-trainline-virgin.svgCMA investigates Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School over 'drip pricing' concernsThe UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating three companies for allegedly not displaying full prices upfront, a practice known as 'drip pricing'. Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and... https://outputgap.com/news/fomc-minutes-reveal-july/2026-08-19https://outputgap.com/share-fomc-minutes-reveal-july.svgFOMC Minutes Reveal July 2026 Policy DeliberationsThe Federal Reserve released the minutes from its July 28-29, 2026 Federal Open Market Committee meeting, providing insights into the economic and financial conditions discussed during the session... https://outputgap.com/news/virgin-takes-step-towards/2026-08-17https://outputgap.com/share-virgin-takes-step-towards.svgVirgin Takes Step Towards Running Channel Tunnel Rail ServicesVirgin has been granted track access by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to run a rival rail service to Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel. (Source: bbc.co.uk) https://outputgap.com/news/switching-bank-accounts-could/2026-08-17https://outputgap.com/share-switching-bank-accounts-could.svgSwitching Bank Accounts Could Earn You Up to £220Many British savers are missing out on hundreds of pounds by staying with the same bank for years. Competitors are offering incentives to switch, with the largest bonus being £220. https://outputgap.com/news/meta-faces-trial-alleged-974cf2/2026-08-17https://outputgap.com/share-meta-faces-trial-alleged-974cf2.svgMeta Faces Trial Over Alleged Harm to Young UsersThirty US states are suing Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over claims that its platforms have targeted and harmed young users. (Source: bbc.co.uk) https://outputgap.com/news/political-simulator-game-tops-8d0392/2026-08-16https://outputgap.com/share-political-simulator-game-tops-8d0392.svgPolitical Simulator Game Tops Charts as UK Politics Inspires New Gaming GenreA Manchester-developed mobile game, No 10: Full Confidence, has surpassed Minecraft in Apple's paid games chart, reflecting a growing trend of UK politics-themed games. The game tasks players with... https://outputgap.com/news/disposable-bbq-ban-imposed-846ae2/2026-08-16https://outputgap.com/share-disposable-bbq-ban-imposed-846ae2.svgDisposable BBQ ban imposed as military aids wildfire responseThe UK government has temporarily banned disposable barbecues amid extreme drought and heatwave conditions, citing their role in recent wildfires. Military personnel, including Gurkha logistics... https://outputgap.com/news/international-trade-goods-services-47bfb7/2026-08-16https://outputgap.com/share-international-trade-goods-services-47bfb7.svgU.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Decreases in JuneThe U.S. goods and services deficit decreased by $4.4 billion in June, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Exports and imports both saw decreases, with... https://outputgap.com/news/uk-considers-cutting-electric-8bd1e0/2026-08-16https://outputgap.com/share-uk-considers-cutting-electric-8bd1e0.svgUK Considers Cutting Electric Vehicle Sales Targets Amid Industry PressureThe UK government is reviewing its electric vehicle (EV) sales targets, potentially cutting them from 80% to 50% by 2030, following pressure from car manufacturers. (Source: bbc.co.uk) https://outputgap.com/prices/2026-08-19 https://outputgap.com/about/ https://outputgap.com/sources-and-methods/ https://outputgap.com/corrections/