UK business confidence plunged to its lowest level on record in September, driven primarily by escalating employment costs and ongoing energy price pressures. According to a survey of business leaders conducted by the Institute of Directors, cost expectations reached unprecedented heights, with labor expenses representing the most significant concern. Anna Leach, the IoD's chief economist, noted that "business confidence has plumbed new depths in September" following a brief improvement at summer's end, highlighting deteriorating conditions across multiple sectors.

The bleak business sentiment emerges against a backdrop of divided views among Bank of England policymakers regarding the inflation trajectory. Two Bank officials, Clare Lombardelli and Catherine Mann, have expressed concerns that UK inflation may not decline as rapidly as anticipated next year, with recent food price spikes potentially persisting into 2026. Both policymakers voted against the central bank's most recent interest rate cut in August, with Mann stating she believes "an inflation persistence scenario is playing out" despite maintaining that further rate reductions remain possible.

In contrast, Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden has adopted a more optimistic stance, asserting that the recent increase in UK inflation will prove temporary and unlikely to generate significant second-round effects. Speaking at Cardiff University, Breeden stated she had "not seen any evidence yet to suggest that the underlying disinflationary process from past shocks is veering off-track," characterizing the situation as "so far so good." Her comments came as headline inflation remained at 3.8% in August, unchanged from the previous month.

The policy divergence within the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee reflects the complex balancing act facing UK monetary authorities. While some members worry about entrenched inflation, Breeden has cautioned that maintaining restrictive policy for "too long" carries economic risks, potentially undermining output and employment while pulling inflation below target. This tension between inflation control and growth preservation comes as businesses grapple with record-low confidence and the chancellor faces calls to deliver a growth-focused budget in November that prioritizes business interests.

In a poignant new BBC documentary filmed during the final three years of his life, Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon are captured planning their return to England from their longtime home in Los Angeles. 'Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home,' set to air Thursday evening, follows the Black Sabbath legend as he prepares for what would become his final move. The documentary, originally conceived as a series called 'Home To Roost' in 2022, documents the couple's decision to relocate to the UK in 2025 after spending more than two decades in the United States.

The film reveals intimate moments between the couple at their Grade II listed Buckinghamshire property, Welders House, which Sharon describes as her 'little piece of heaven.' Ozzy, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, expresses both apprehension and anticipation about the move. In one revealing clip, he tells his daughter Kelly, 'I wouldn't say I'm excited. I'm kind of scared to back,' while acknowledging his wife's enthusiasm for their English home. 'I'm so used to being over here now but I've got to go back. I've got a house there and your mum said it's beautiful,' the rocker admits.

Tragically, Ozzy's homecoming plans were cut short when he died of heart failure on July 22, just two weeks after performing a farewell concert with his Black Sabbath bandmates at Birmingham's Villa Park. The 76-year-old rock legend was buried in the private grounds of Welders House, the very property featured in the documentary. Sharon, who had told filmmakers 'Home is where both of us are. As long as he is with me I am alright,' now finds herself living alone at the estate they had planned to share together.

The documentary captures bittersweet moments of the couple enjoying their Buckinghamshire property this summer, with Sharon expressing interest in adding more deer to the grounds while Ozzy makes plans to fish in the lake. These ordinary domestic scenes take on deeper significance in light of Ozzy's subsequent passing. The film serves as a final testament to the couple's enduring partnership and their shared vision for retirement in England, a vision that would remain unfulfilled despite their careful preparations and heartfelt declarations about their future together.