Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Cruise firm to bring thousand more tourists to Aberdeen again next year
Two luxury cruise ships will once again sail in to Aberdeen next year.
The £339million AIDAsol and £254million AIDAdiva, both owned by German company AIDA Cruises, are to return as part of its cruise schedule.
It comes as Port of Aberdeen bosses revealed there’s 57 ships due to dock at the harbour next year with bookings already being taken for the next three years, according to the P&J.
Fiona Hyslop gives no commitment over A96 revamp by 2030
Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop refused to say whether the A96 will be fully dualled by 2030 – claiming budget pressures will have an impact.
The SNP minister was challenged on progress of the major infrastructure project during an appearance in front of MSPs in Holyrood on Tuesday.
There are fears the long-awaited dualling upgrade may no longer be completed in full between Aberdeen and Inverness as promised more than a decade ago.
UK inflation forecast to be highest of advanced economies
Prices will rise faster in the UK than any other advanced economy this year, a forecast suggests.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said UK inflation would average 7.2% in 2023.
The think tank said this would be the highest rate in the G7 group, which includes the US, Germany, France, Japan, Canada and Italy.
The UK Government said it was confident it was "on the right track to halve inflation" by the end of 2023.
It added that the OECD's forecast "illustrates yet again why we need to stick to the plan that we have set out".
Global debt surges to record $307 trillion amid borrowing binge
Global debt has surged to a fresh record of $307 trillion (£248 trillion) as governments and financial services companies fuel a jump in borrowing.
Borrowers added $10 trillion to the debt mountain in the first half of 2023, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF).
Total debts now amount to 336pc of global GDP, an increase compared with the second half of 2022. This is the first increase in two years, as the surge in inflation has eaten away the relative value of debts across much of the world.
It comes as US government debt hit a record $33 trillion this month amid heavy borrowing and spending programmes from the Biden administration.
The Telegraph said rich world economies have driven the boom in borrowing.
Crisis-hit CBI cancels AGM over cash shortage
The CBI has been forced to postpone its annual general meeting, less than 24 hours before it was due to start, as it struggles with a financial crisis.
The troubled business group told members yesterday on the eve of the delayed meeting that it has “experienced some short-term cashflow challenges” but was in “positive dialogue over finalising financing options”.
The CBI said it was “confident that we will be able to resolve this short-term issue and secure the footing of an organisation that remains in a strong medium to long term position”.
The Times said options are understood to include securing emergency funding from members while it explores a contentious merger with MakeUK, a lobby group for the manufacturing sector.