Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
UK inflation falls to 3% in January
UK inflation fell sharply in January to 3%, the lowest level in nearly a year, delivering a further boost to hopes for an interest rate cut as soon as next month after unemployment hit a five-year high.
Inflation dropped from 3.4% in December, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday. January’s decline was in line with analysts’ expectations and took inflation down to the lowest level since March 2025.
Inflation was driven downward by airfares, petrol and food prices, while the rising cost of hotels and takeaways put upward pressure on price growth.
Nicola Sturgeon: I want my voice heard again on political stage
Nicola Sturgeon is writing a “chunky new chapter” to her bestselling memoir while considering a political comeback as she prepares to step down from Holyrood.
Sturgeon announced she was moving away from elected politics and planned to start a fresh career after she stepped down as first minister in February 2023.
Now, three years later, she has revealed that travelling around the UK and Ireland to promote her book had “reawakened” her appetite for being involved in political life.
Ministers deny involvement in delay to Murrell court hearing
The Scottish government insists it had no involvement in the decision to push back a court hearing in the criminal case against former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.
The 61-year-old faces a charge of embezzling almost £460,000 from the party over a period of more than 12 years.
A preliminary hearing scheduled for this Friday has been put back to 25 May. Murrell has not yet made any plea.
Illegal skin lightening cream being sold in UK butchers, watchdog warns
Illegal skin lightening products are being sold in butchers and specialist food shops across the UK as well as online, a watchdog has warned.
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) said the dangerous and illicit products are appearing in an increasingly wide range of places.
It has told the public to avoid the creams and report shops that continue to sell them.
Sony PlayStation 6 launch ‘to be delayed’ by shortage of chips
The launch of the next PlayStation console may be pushed back as the technology industry grapples with a chip shortage that has been exacerbated by the boom in artificial intelligence.
Sony is considering delaying the release of the PlayStation 6 until 2028 or 2029, according to reports by Bloomberg, as the Japanese manufacturer struggles to get the memory chips needed for the console.
The scarcity of Dram, or dynamic random-access memory, has been stoked by competing demand from AI data centres.
Paramount has final chance to snatch Warner Bros from Netflix
Warner Bros Discovery has reopened negotiations with Paramount Skydance, giving the suitor seven days to come up with a “best and final offer”.
Paramount is attempting to derail Netflix’s agreed deal to acquire Warner Bros’ Hollywood studios and HBO Max streaming service.
The renewed talks between Warner Bros and Paramount come after a banker representing the latter told a Warner Bros board member that Paramount would raise its $30-a-share bid to at least $31, if negotiations were reopened.