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Friday, 28 August 2026

The Daily Trend

Today’s news, with the data and without the spin

Energy Bills

Trending · Energy

Energy Bills

Daily Mirror

15 articles across 6 outlets · news sources analysed by AI, figures counted from the coverage

Sentiment

Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 15 articles

What happened

  • Ofgem announced the energy price cap will rise by four per cent in October to £1,723 a year for the average household.
  • Cornwall Insight forecasts a further nine per cent increase in January, pushing bills more than £200 above current rates.
  • Household energy debt reached a record £6 billion by the end of June, with forecasters warning it could hit £7 billion by year end.

Typical Annual Bill

The annual energy bill a typical household pays under the Ofgem price cap: standard tariff, Direct Debit, benchmark gas and electricity use, in Great Britain. Northern Ireland runs a separate market. Ofgem restates the run on one consistent basis, so older points differ from the figures announced at the time. When it rises, standard-tariff households pay more.

LATEST · 2026 Q4£1,723
GROWTH · YOY-8.9%
HIGH · 2023 Q1£4,414
LOW · Oct 2020–Mar 2021£1,077
12345£ thousand2020202220242026
ConservativeLabourCoalition

Source: Ofgem · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Coverage: Great Britain

How each side sees it

  • Left

    Summary

    Daily Mirror ran six articles on the October energy price cap rise, which takes the typical bill to £1,723 annually. Coverage included practical advice from Martin Lewis on avoiding the hike, a hands-on test to identify heat loss, and an exclusive interview with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh acknowledging public pressure over bill rises.

    Sentiment

    Across left-leaning outlets · 12 articles

  • Right

    Summary

    Daily Mail and Evening Standard covered the energy price cap rise taking effect in October. The Mail reported on public support for renewable energy expansion and questioned its impact on bills, whilst also linking the rise to Labour's Net Zero policies. The Evening Standard provided an explanation of the 4% increase for typical households.

    Sentiment

    Across right-leaning outlets · 3 articles

Other News

The next most-covered stories, measured the same way. Each one sits on a board where the numbers behind it live.

  • Capital gains tax receipts hit £24.2 billion

    Trending · Finance

    Capital gains tax receipts hit £24.2 billion

    5 articles across 4 outlets · edited by Trend, figures counted from the coverage

    Sentiment

    Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 5 articles

  • Capital gains tax receipts hit £24.2 billion

    Trending · Finance

    Capital gains tax receipts hit £24.2 billion

    Capital gains tax receipts reached £24.2 billion in 2024-25, up 89% year-on-year. Conservatives argue further tax rises on high earners would reduce total government revenue.

  • Data

    Where Your £100 Comes From

    For every £100 the government collects in tax, this shows where it comes from. Most people assume income tax does the heavy lifting, and they are right.

    £3358.1%2025
    20202025

    See this and every other finance figure Trend holds on the Finance board.

  • Left

    Summary

    The Independent reported that capital gains tax receipts totalled £24.2 billion in 2024-25, an 89% increase year-on-year, citing HMRC figures.

    Sentiment

    Across left-leaning outlets · 1 article

  • Right

    Summary

    The Evening Standard and City AM covered the £24.2 billion capital gains tax receipt figure. City AM also detailed Conservative analysis arguing that further increases to the capital gains tax rate would reduce overall tax receipts. The Daily Mail described the rise as propping up public finances whilst raising questions about the sustainability of receipts.

    Sentiment

    Across right-leaning outlets · 4 articles

The data behind

Capital gains tax receipts hit £24.2 billion

Where Your £100 Comes From

For every £100 the government collects in tax, this shows where it comes from. Most people assume income tax does the heavy lifting, and they are right. Income tax and National Insurance together account for nearly half of everything the government raises. The rest comes from what you spend, what businesses earn and what you own.

per £100£100
  • Income Tax£30
  • National Insurance£18
  • VAT£17
  • Corporation Tax£8
  • Council Tax£5
  • Business Rates£3
  • Fuel Duty£2
  • Other taxes£17

Source: Office for National Statistics / HMRC

Coverage: UK

  • Prison Killer Early Jail

    Trending · Justice

    Prison Killer Early Jail

    6 articles across 4 outlets · news sources analysed by AI, figures counted from the coverage

    Sentiment

    Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 6 articles

  • Prison Killer Early Jail

    Trending · Justice

    Prison Killer Early Jail

    The Government will bar those convicted of killing a police officer from early release schemes, reports say.

  • Data

    Prison Population

    The number of people held in prison across England and Wales, counted every week. It includes sentenced prisoners, people on remand (held in custody before trial or sentencing) and immigration detainees, and is best read against usable operational capacity, how many a prison can safely hold.

    86,5570.5%19 Oct 2026
    06 Jan 202319 Oct 2026

    See this and every other justice figure Trend holds on the Justice board.

  • Left

    Summary

    The Daily Mirror and Daily Record reported that PC Andrew Harper's killers will be excluded from the early release scheme, with those convicted of unlawful act manslaughter no longer eligible. The Daily Record wrote that the Government is expected to bring in rules preventing anyone convicted of killing a police officer from being released early. The Independent carried a prison governor warning that rowing back on early release risks leaving overcrowded prisons at breaking point.

    Sentiment

    Across left-leaning outlets · 4 articles

  • Right

    Summary

    The Daily Mail reported that the Justice Secretary plans a law change barring those convicted of a certain type of manslaughter from early release, naming Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole among the men who would be kept in prison. It also ran a case in which a woman convicted of money laundering avoided a jail sentence because of prison overcrowding.

    Sentiment

    Across right-leaning outlets · 2 articles

The data behind

Prison Killer Early Jail

Prison Population

The number of people held in prison across England and Wales, counted every week. It includes sentenced prisoners, people on remand (held in custody before trial or sentencing) and immigration detainees, and is best read against usable operational capacity, how many a prison can safely hold. When it rises, the system runs short of room; when it falls, headroom returns.

82k84k86k88k90k202420252026
ConservativeLabourCoalition

Source: Ministry of Justice / HMPPS · Prison Population Statistics

Coverage: England & Wales