Business
Higher business taxes to cost pub sector £150m and threaten jobs – analysis
Pubs are facing steeper business taxes that could cost the sector an extra £150 million and threaten thousands of jobs, new analysis suggests.
Firms will end up paying more despite business rates being lowered in the Budget, industry bosses are warning.
This is because they are facing a cut to existing tax relief next year, coupled with revaluations that could push up how much pubs can be taxed.
New analysis from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) estimates that higher bills will cost the industry an extra £150 million – the equivalent to 12,500 jobs.
The BBPA calculated that bills will rise by £3,867 for the average small pub from next year, and by £11,085 for the average medium-sized pub.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said pubs across the country “are anxiously doing the sums and many will now see their bills will dramatically go up, not down, despite the impression the Budget gave”.
“The new lower multipliers combined with the loss of the existing relief will not counter the huge increase in rateable values,” she told the Press Association.
In the Budget, the Government confirmed a current 40% discount for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses – which is capped at £110,000 per business – will end on March 31 next year.
This will be replaced by a new system from the next financial year, which will see rates multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure firms set 5p lower than the standard rate with no cap in support.
Rachel Reeves said it would be the “lowest rates since 1991” and would be paid for through higher rates on properties worth more than £500,000 – including the warehouses used by “online giants”.
However, the discount is less generous than the 20p reduction it could have been, industry groups say.
And analysis since Wednesday’s Budget has indicated that the change, combined with an increase in rateable values for most pubs, will result in a sharp annual increase to bills.
Separate calculations by industry group UKHospitality found that the average pub’s business rates, even with the reduced multiplier, will increase by 15% next year – amounting to an extra £1,400.
By 2027-28, the average pub’s rates will be £4,500 higher than today, and by 2028-29, they will be £7,000 higher, according to its analysis.
Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said plans in the Budget were “quickly unravelling”.
“We repeatedly warned the Treasury ahead of the Budget that hospitality would be uniquely impacted by significant increases to rateable values, due to the pandemic impacting previous valuations,” she said.
“The Government can solve this issue. I’m certain they did not intend to provide online giants, office blocks and out-of-town supermarkets with a better deal than local pubs, neighbourhood restaurants and coastal hotels.”
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The layoffs account for 3-4% of Flipkart’s workforce, which is higher than the company’s practice of letting go of 1-2% of employees in the lowest performance bracket every year.
Flipkart Layoffs 2026.
Flipkart Layoffs 2026: Flipkart, the Walmart-owned e-commerce giant, has reportedly asked around 400-500 employees to exit the company this year following its annual performance review process. According to a report by The Economic Times, the layoffs account for roughly 3-4% of Flipkart’s workforce, which is higher than the company’s usual practice of letting go of 1-2% of employees in the lowest performance bracket every year.
Why Has Flipkart Laid Off Employees?
Responding to queries, Flipkart said the move is part of its routine evaluation process. “Flipkart conducts regular performance reviews aligned with clearly defined expectations. As part of this process, a small percentage of employees may transition from the organisation. We are supporting affected employees with transition support,” the company said, according to Mint.
Layoffs Across Teams, Hiring Continues For Senior Roles
The job cuts have reportedly impacted employees across multiple departments and job levels. At the same time, the company continues to recruit senior executives as it prepares for a potential initial public offering (IPO).
According to a report by ANI, Flipkart has recently strengthened its leadership team with several senior appointments.
These include Somnath Das as vice-president (supply chain), Digbijay Mishra as vice-president (corporate communications), Vipin Kapooria as vice-president (business finance), Yogita Shanbhag as vice-president (human resources), and Amer Hussain as vice-president (supply chain for its grocery and quick-commerce businesses).
Flipkart Preparing For India IPO
In December 2025, Flipkart received approval from the National Company Law Tribunal to shift its legal domicile from Singapore to India, a key step ahead of a potential domestic listing.
The restructuring involved merging eight Singapore-based entities into Flipkart Internet Pvt Ltd, simplifying the group’s holding structure across businesses such as fashion, health and logistics.
Loss Widens Despite Revenue Growth
Financial data shows that Flipkart continues to expand its business, although losses have widened.
According to data from Tofler, Flipkart India reported a consolidated loss of Rs 5,189 crore in FY25, compared with Rs 4,248.3 crore in FY24.
However, revenue from operations rose 17.3% to Rs 82,787.3 crore, up from Rs 70,541.9 crore a year earlier.
Total expenses also increased 17.4% to Rs 88,121.4 crore, largely due to higher stock-in-trade purchases, which climbed to Rs 87,737.8 crore, compared with Rs 74,271.2 crore in the previous financial year.
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March 07, 2026, 14:51 IST
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Global businesses are feeling the impact of the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, as rising energy prices and disrupted trade routes create uncertainty across markets.
Oil and Energy Prices Surge
The conflict has triggered a sharp rise in global oil and gas prices. Brent crude prices have climbed close to $90 per barrel, raising concerns among businesses and policymakers about inflation and higher operating costs.
Industry leaders warn that prolonged price increases could affect nearly every sector of the global economy.
Higher fuel costs are already pushing up prices for transportation, manufacturing, and consumer goods.
Trade Routes Under Pressure
Shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil supplies, have slowed significantly as tensions escalate.
Air travel routes across the Gulf have also been disrupted, creating delays for cargo shipments and international flights.
Industries Facing Supply Disruptions
Several industries are beginning to feel the effects:
Aluminium production has been disrupted as shipments through the Gulf face restrictions.
Helium supplies, crucial for semiconductor manufacturing, could also be affected.
Chemical and energy-intensive industries in Europe are already reducing production due to rising gas prices.
The Gulf region accounts for roughly 8% of global aluminium production, making any supply disruption a major concern for global manufacturing.
Businesses Prepare for Economic Impact
Major companies are now hedging energy costs and reviewing supply chains to manage the uncertainty.
Analysts warn that if oil prices reach $100 per barrel, global economic growth could slow significantly.
Some financial institutions estimate global growth could drop by 0.4 percentage points if the conflict persists.
Risk of Another Energy Crisis
Experts say the situation highlights how vulnerable global markets remain to geopolitical shocks.
Business leaders warn that energy volatility, supply chain disruption, and rising inflation could lead to a new global economic slowdown if the conflict continues for an extended period.
Business
Want To Buy A House In Karnataka? Know About The ‘Namma Mane’ Scheme With Affordable Housing & Subsidies
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The programme aims to make land ownership more accessible for eligible residents while supporting the government’s wider goal of providing housing for all.
Under the ‘Namma Mane’ housing scheme 50,000 residential plots will be distributed at concessional rates over the next two years.
What if owning a home became a little more achievable? In the latest Karnataka Budget, the state government has announced a series of housing initiatives aimed at expanding access to affordable homes and residential plots. From the ‘Namma Mane’ scheme offering concessional sites to increased subsidies for beneficiaries and plans for a massive sports complex in Anekal, the announcements signal a renewed push towards housing development across the state.
The Karnataka government has unveiled several housing and infrastructure initiatives in the latest state budget, including the distribution of thousands of residential plots and the construction of a large sports complex in Bengaluru’s Anekal taluk. The announcements are part of broader efforts to expand housing access and improve public infrastructure across the state.
Karnataka Budget Housing Scheme: Key Benefits
One of the key proposals is the introduction of the ‘Namma Mane’ housing scheme, under which 50,000 residential plots will be distributed at concessional rates over the next two years. The programme aims to make land ownership more accessible for eligible residents while supporting the government’s wider goal of providing housing for all.
The Housing Department has also set a new target of sanctioning one lakh houses under various housing schemes in the state. These houses will be approved based on the Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) model, which allows eligible beneficiaries to construct their own homes with financial support from the government.
As part of this initiative, the government has increased the subsidy amount provided under housing schemes. For beneficiaries in the general category, the subsidy has been raised from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. Meanwhile, beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will receive increased assistance, with the subsidy rising from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh.
The budget also introduces a change in the process used to select beneficiaries for state housing schemes. Instead of the traditional manual lottery system, selections will now be conducted through an online lottery in Gram Sabhas. The move is expected to improve transparency and streamline the allocation process.
In addition to housing initiatives, the Karnataka Housing Board has announced plans to develop a major sports facility in Anekal taluk of Bengaluru Urban district. The project, titled ‘KHB Surya Krida Grama’, will include the construction of an 80,000-seat cricket stadium designed to host international sporting events.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Slum Development Board is continuing the implementation of housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (AHP). A total of 1.29 lakh houses are being constructed under the scheme, with 79,134 homes dedicated for the year 2025–26. The state government has allocated an additional grant of Rs 1,136 crore to support the project, providing permanent housing to many slum residents.
Since the Congress government came to power, Rs 7,328 crore has been spent on various housing schemes. So far, 4,19,454 houses have been completed and handed over to beneficiaries. The government has set a target to complete three lakh houses during the current year.
Authorities have also stated that steps will be taken to complete the 4.90 lakh houses sanctioned by the previous government, even though they were approved without grants.
March 07, 2026, 10:51 IST
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