Your commercial news round-up: UK economy, airport drop-off charges, Poundland

Bethany Wren (she/her) is head of content and events at LawCareers.Net.

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There’s mixed news for the UK economy this week as all eyes are on Chancellor John Healey’s upcoming Autumn Budget which is set to be delivered in two weeks. Meanwhile, the government has pledged to review “rip-off” airport drop-off charges and Poundland is in talks with potential buyers over a rescue deal. Read on for LawCareers.Net’s pick of this week’s top commercial stories.

• The UK economy grew by a surprise 0.1% in August, despite pressures from higher energy prices and borrowing costs, contributing to growth of 0.7% over the three months to August. An increase in production, including manufacturing and energy supply, helped drive the boost, while services were flat and construction contracted. Economists said investment in AI infrastructure was supporting the UK’s performance, although rising inflation could weigh on future growth. The news comes ahead of Chancellor John Healey’s Autumn Budget which will be delivered in two weeks.

• Meanwhile, London’s IPO market remained subdued in the third quarter of 2026, with just one public offering, raising £29.8 million, making it the quietest quarter since late 2023. Across the first nine months of the year, only eight UK companies listed, although the £606.9 million raised was significantly higher than during the same period in 2025. UKI IPO leader at EY, Scott McCubbin, said that “A strong pipeline of businesses is preparing to come to market”, with much of the activity expected to happen next year. However, ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and decisions in the upcoming Autumn Budget could continue to influence London’s attractiveness as a place for companies to list.

• If you’ve dropped a loved one off at the airport recently, you might have noticed a sharp increase in the charges. The government has said this week that it’ll review airport drop-off charges after fees at major UK airports rose by a third compared with summer 2025, which the RAC, who conducted the analysis, described as a “rip-off”. It now costs £10 to drop off at Gatwick and Stansted, £8.50 at Edinburgh and £8 at Bournemouth. Airports argue that the fees help manage congestion and air pollution and reflect the commercial pressures faced by privately owned UK airports. The government said its review will consider how to ensure passengers are treated fairly and travel remains accessible.

• Finally, Poundland is in talks with potential buyers over a rescue deal, with its management team working with Irish property firm Martin Property Group on a possible buyout. The retailer, which has around 600 stores and 12,000 employees in the UK and Ireland, has struggled with rising costs and intense competition, although it expects sales to have grown by more than 3% in 2026. Shopworkers’ union Usdaw has warned that Poundland could fall into administration if a deal cannot be reached, putting thousands of jobs at risk. The situation comes just over a year after previous owner Pepco sold Poundland to US investment firm Gordon Brothers for £1.

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