WASHINGTON — Consumer prices ticked higher in July, with the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge showing annual core inflation holding at 3.3%, according to a Commerce Department report released Wednesday, arriving just days before Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh delivers his first major policy speech at the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole symposium.

The personal consumption expenditures price index, the measure the Fed relies on most heavily for its policy forecasting, rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2% for the month, putting the annual headline inflation rate at 3.7%. Both figures came in 0.1 percentage point above the Dow Jones consensus estimate. Stripping out volatile food and energy costs, core PCE posted respective monthly and annual gains of 0.2% and 3.3%, landing exactly in line with economist forecasts. While the Fed monitors both the headline and core measures, policymakers generally treat core inflation as the more reliable indicator of longer-term underlying price trends, given how much short-term volatility in food and energy prices can distort the headline figure.

The broader report also showed personal income rising 0.4% in July, while consumer spending increased 0.2%, with both figures coming in stronger than economists had anticipated, according to CNBC’s coverage of the release.

A closer breakdown of the data revealed diverging trends across different categories of consumer spending. Goods prices actually declined during the month, falling 0.1%, driven primarily by a 2.7% decrease in gasoline and other energy-related goods, alongside a 0.9% drop in furnishings and long-lasting household equipment. Services prices, by contrast, continued climbing, rising 0.3% for the month, pushed higher by a 1.2% increase in financial services and insurance costs along with a more modest 0.3% gain in housing costs.

Financial markets showed a modest, immediate reaction to the data. Stock market futures pulled back slightly following the report’s release, while Treasury yields moved higher, reflecting investor recalibration around the persistence of inflation heading into the Fed’s next major policy decisions.

The report lands at a pivotal moment for Federal Reserve policymakers, who continue weighing their next move even as inflation, despite generally soft monthly readings throughout the summer, remains well above the central bank’s longstanding 2% target. The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee did not hold a formal policy meeting in August, giving officials a brief reprieve before their next scheduled gathering on Sept. 15-16. According to CNBC, markets are currently pricing in only about a 1-in-3 probability of a rate move at that September meeting, with traders instead viewing December as the more likely window for any potential rate hike.

Although the FOMC itself is not meeting this week, Fed officials are gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for the central bank’s closely watched annual economic policy symposium, with the event’s centerpiece being a keynote policy address scheduled for Friday from Chairman Kevin Warsh. Since taking office in May, Warsh has remained notably circumspect regarding where he sees monetary policy heading, generally preferring to let markets set their own expectations rather than offering explicit forward guidance, a communication style that has left investors particularly eager for clearer signals during his Jackson Hole appearance.

The inflation data arrives amid a broader backdrop of rising government bond yields that has added further complexity to the Fed’s policy calculus. Both the 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields recently touched their highest levels since 2007, just before the onset of the global financial crisis, according to CNBC. That surge has been attributed to a combination of factors, including growing investor concern about the Fed’s underlying commitment to its inflation target, as well as broader anxiety surrounding the federal government’s debt levels and budget deficits.

In response to those rising yields, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced roughly a week earlier that his department would significantly step up its buybacks of government debt, an initiative aimed at helping stabilize longer-term borrowing costs. However, according to CNBC, market participants have expressed skepticism regarding whether that buyback program will ultimately have a meaningful, lasting impact on yields given the scale of the broader fiscal pressures driving the recent bond market volatility.

Wednesday’s report caps a busy week of market-moving developments, with investors simultaneously digesting the inflation data, Nvidia’s closely watched quarterly earnings report, and Meta’s separate announcement of a roughly $16.7 billion settlement resolving state lawsuits over allegations the company designed its platforms to addict children, developments that have collectively shaped market sentiment even as the underlying inflation picture remains the dominant macroeconomic story heading into the fall.

With core inflation holding steady at 3.3%, comfortably above the Fed’s 2% target but not accelerating further, Wednesday’s report is likely to reinforce the current wait-and-see posture many Fed officials appear to be adopting ahead of their September meeting. Investors and economists alike are expected to parse Warsh’s Friday remarks at Jackson Hole closely for any indication of how the incoming chairman intends to balance the central bank’s continued inflation-fighting mandate against growing concerns about elevated borrowing costs and the broader health of the bond market, even as his relatively guarded public communication style so far has left much of that policy direction still genuinely uncertain heading into his first major address in the role.

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Members of the Spring Lake community on the Jersey Shore are entering a new phase in their multi-year fight with Verizon over the installation of proposed 5G poles that would improve network service but have rankled residents concerned about their impact.

The town council of Spring Lake, N.J., held a public comment meeting on Tuesday evening regarding a settlement that would see Verizon ditch a plan to install nine 5G poles along the Ocean Avenue boardwalk, with a 10th pole on nearby Prospect Ave., in favor of a more discreet option.

The company reached a proposed settlement with the borough to instead install the 5G antennas into two enclosed, hut-like cupolas that are situated on top of pavilion buildings at the north and south ends of the boardwalk.

That compromise followed a lawsuit in federal court brought by Verizon against Spring Lake in 2024, which the Jersey Shore community’s residents later intervened in. 

VERIZON SUES JERSEY SHORE TOWN TO INSTALL 5G POLES ALONG BEACH WITH ‘OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION’ FROM RESIDENTS

Beachgoers enjoying the Jersey Shore in Spring Lake, N.J. (Getty Images)

Spring Lake litigation counsel Benjamin Clark said that he thinks it’s “a better choice to pursue the pavilion option, rather than to just continue litigation against Verizon because the key thing here, from what I’ve been able to observe and have always been instructed, is ‘preserve the beachfront.’”

Residents at the town council meeting expressed frustration with being left out of negotiations on the proposed settlement, citing safety concerns related to 5G emissions and saying the borough shouldn’t make a deal in the short-term just to end the dispute.

The National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland notes that government researchers, industry scientists and academics from the U.S., Asia and Europe are in agreement that 5G and 4G LTE emissions are safe and don’t pose any dangers to public health.

VERIZON PLAN TO INSTALL 5G POLES ALONG POPULAR JERSEY SHORE BEACH STIRS UPROAR

A view of the Essex and Sussex building in Spring Lake, N.J. (Getty Images)

Local activists opposed to the settlement also cited concerns that agreeing to the settlement could create a precedent for future expansion of cell towers, while some said they’re not concerned about the quality of their cell service while visiting the beach.

Those opposed to the compromise say the issue of 5G antennas near Jersey Shore beachfronts will arise in other communities as well, and want Spring Lake to take a stand.

Communities on the Jersey Shore like Spring Lake can see a large influx of visitors during the summer months for the area’s beaches and recreation, which can impact the quality of cell service for device users.

VERIZON LAUNCHES SIMPLER PLANS AND NEW LOYALTY PROGRAM, DROPS SOME FEES

Verizon’s proposed settlement would see the cell service provider opt for enclosed huts on the top of two pavilion buildings to house 5G antennas, rather than traditional towers. (Daniel Karmann/picture alliance)

For its part, Verizon said it’s focused on ensuring there are positive relationships in the communities it serves while it works to expand the capacity and capability of its network.

“Verizon is committed to responsibly building our network to meet the growing demand of our customers while maintaining positive relationships with the communities where we work,” Verizon said in a statement to FOX Business.

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The Spring Lake town council is planning to hold a vote on the settlement proposal on Sept. 15.

FOX Business’ Madison Alworth contributed to this report.

A third of planned apartments would be affordable

Planners at Blackpool will make a decision next week on ambitious proposals to demolish an empty hotel near South Shore seafront and replace it with 15 self-contained flats.

The proposals will offer 33 percent of the apartments (a total of five) as affordable housing, if the scheme gets the go ahead.

The application is for the erection of a four storey building comprising 15 self-contained permanent apartments, following demolition of the former Henderson Hotel at 1 Wimbourne Place, a site close to Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort.

Now Blackpool Council’s planning committee will run the rule on the scheme when it meets on Tuesday September 1.

The Henderson Hotel was one of three adjoining hotels being offered for sale early in 2025 at £1.9m as part of a potential redevelopment project.

The site comprised three buildings – the Waldorf Hotel, the Kimberley Hotel and the Henderson Hotel – which required demolition before development takes place.

However, the current application involves the Henderson Hotel only, with no reference made to the other two properties.

A Design and Access Statement by consultants Future Planning and Development Ltd, has been submitted on behalf of the un-named applicants in supporting a Full Planning Application for the scheme.

Explaining the new need for a new building, the statement says of the current property: “The narrow circulation spaces, rigid structural layout, thin partitions, and outdated configuration present significant and inherent barriers to successful conversion or modernisation.

“Achieving a modern, building regulations-compliant layout within the existing envelope would likely require extensive intervention, making comprehensive refurbishment or reuse highly impractical and economically unviable.”

The statement adds: “The vision for the redevelopment of 1 Wimbourne Place is to transform a dated and under used hotel site into a high quality, attractive and inclusive residential environment that makes a positive contribution to the local area.”

The planning committee is being recommended to support and delegate approval of the application to the Head of Development Management, subject to the completion of a S106 legal agreement on social housing to secure planning obligations.

The planning officer’s report states: “The application proposes that five of the units would be affordable (33%) which is in line with Policy CS14.

“These would need to be secured via a Section 106 legal agreement on a tenure basis acceptable to the council’s housing team.

“Although it is envisaged that these properties would be taken on by a Registered Social Landlord (RSL), this cannot be guaranteed at this stage, so it is proposed that the Section 106 would first require on site provision but it would also allow for a financial contribution to be paid towards affordable housing.”

To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.

Projects focuses on industrial and logistics occupiers

Work to create a huge industrial shed on the outskirts of Wigan has finished.

Building firm Glencar has completed construction at Martland Park of a 102,000 sq ft industrial and logistics unit commissioned by commercial property developer Hillwood UK.

The builder said the high-specification unit has been developed to ‘meet the requirements of modern industrial and logistics occupiers, with a strong focus on sustainability, operational efficiency, and long-term performance’.

The completed warehouse. close to the M6 and the Heinz complex at Kitt Green, has first-floor office accommodation and a range of sustainability measures including photovoltaic panels and electric vehicle charging points.

Works also included groundworks and drainage infrastructure to support the site.

Glencar said the completed building provides ‘high-quality, future-ready industrial space, supporting employment and inward investment in Wigan’.

It said the building sets ‘a new benchmark for sustainable industrial and logistics development at Martland Park’.

No occupier for the massive space has been announced as yet.

Tom Kearsley, north regional director at Glencar said: “The completion of Martland Park is a strong example of what can be achieved through close collaboration with a committed client and consultant team.

“We are proud to have delivered a high-quality, sustainable facility for Hillwood UK that meets the demands of modern industrial and logistics occupiers.”

Mark Wright, vice president at Hillwood UK, said: “The development reflects our commitment to providing sustainable, well-designed industrial and logistics space and represents an excellent addition to our portfolio in the North West.”

To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.

In this review of the U.K.’s top digital marketing agencies, NP Digital stands out because of the way it combines SEO, paid media, content, digital PR, analytics and AI search optimisation within a single performance marketing offering.

Other notable options include Jellyfish for enterprise-integrated media, Brainlabs for data-led paid media, Croud for international campaign delivery, Found for AI-first search visibility, and Passion Digital for search-led growth in B2B and professional services.

Best digital marketing agencies in the UK at a glance

It’s impossible to rank one agency as the best choice for every company. Brands need to take into account the specifics of their brief, such as the channels they’re targeting, the markets where they desire increased visibility, their campaign’s scale and if specialist expertise is required.

How we selected these agencies

We assessed each of the agencies according to the following criteria:

• Service coverage: The extent of their services, such as SEO, paid media, content creation, creative, digital PR and analytics.
• Performance focus: The agency’s ability to deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Data and technology: The use of proprietary tools, analytics or technology to support campaign performance.
• UK market relevance: The ability to support businesses operating in the UK.
• Demonstrated expertise: Evidence such as recognised clients, industry awards, platform partnerships and established specialist services.

Our intention is not to create a definitive ranking. Each agency has its strengths and weaknesses, and will be better suited to different types of marketing briefs.

1. NP Digital: Full-funnel performance marketing

NP Digital is a global performance marketing agency founded by Neil Patel and Mike Kamo, working with enterprise and mid-market brands across multiple markets.

It is one of the more comprehensive options on this list for businesses that want several digital disciplines managed together, rather than through separate specialist agencies.

Its service offering includes:

• Search engine optimisation
• Paid search
• Paid social
• Content marketing
• Digital PR
• Media planning and buying
• Performance creative
• Data and analytics
• Generative Engine Optimisation and Answer Engine Optimisation

A key aspect of NP Digital’s current positioning is its focus on visibility across both traditional search and AI-driven discovery.

Its GEO and AEO approach covers areas such as entity optimisation, content clarity and structure, brand mentions, technical SEO, and E-E-A-T. The agency also has AI visibility capabilities associated with Ubersuggest, while AnswerThePublic supports question and search-intent research.

This means NP Digital offers a much broader search proposition than traditional SEO alone, with services designed to ensure visibility in search engines as well as AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity.

The agency has also earned recognition from marketing industry publications including Campaign, Performance Marketing World and AdAge.

Who is NP Digital best suited for?

NP Digital is particularly relevant for brands looking for a broad performance marketing partner that can combine SEO, paid media, content, digital PR, analytics and AI search optimisation.

Businesses looking for a highly specialised paid-media agency or a smaller boutique partner may find other options on this list more suitable.

2. Jellyfish: Enterprise integrated media

Jellyfish is a global digital agency with a strong presence in enterprise media, technology, creative and data.

It has become a popular choice for large organisations running complex international campaigns, due to its extensive experience across major advertising and technology platforms.

Its capabilities span media, creative, data and technology, while its Share of Model product is designed to measure how brands are ranked by AI chatbots and assistants.

Jellyfish has also worked with dozens of international brands across multiple industries.

Who is Jellyfish best suited for?

Jellyfish is known for partnering with large organisations on long-running, integrated media campaigns executed at international scale. It’s also popular with brands looking for deep platform expertise.

But for businesses that need a heavier emphasis on organic search and digital PR, or a more deeply integrated earned-and-paid strategy, there may be better agencies on this list.

3. Brainlabs: Data-led paid media

Brainlabs offers data-led digital marketing services and is known for excelling in areas such as paid media optimisation and measuring campaign effectiveness.

Its approach is heavily focused on using testing and data to improve media performance across major advertising platforms.

Proof of the success of its methods can be found in its client list, which spans dozens of well-known brands, including many with significant paid-media budgets.

Some of its best-known clients include the financial giant American Express, travel firm Expedia, Formula 1, Harrods, TUI and Domino’s.

Who is Brainlabs best suited for?

Brainlabs is often hired by brands in need of paid media services and creative experiments that prove the effectiveness of their campaigns.

However, the company has quite a narrow focus. Its core offering is centred around media performance, however, with much less emphasis on generative AI search or earned-media-led marketing.

4. Croud: International campaign delivery

Croud is a UK-based agency known for outsourcing expertise to an international network of marketing specialists who live in its clients’ target markets.

It also has a strong in-house team and, therefore, a distinct model that enables it to scale its campaigns globally, with everything directed by a local, centralised management team.

Its services include media, strategy, social media, creative solutions and data analytics. Croud counts brands including AllSaints, Compare the Market, Timberland, Amazon Prime Video, Aston Martin and Nespresso on its list of publicly revealed clients.

Who is Croud best suited for?

Croud appears to be a solid partner for brands seeking flexible digital marketing execution across multiple regions, countries, and languages. Its use of an international network makes it an especially appealing choice for companies that require localised support on the ground within their target markets.

5. Found: AI-first search visibility

Found is a UK digital agency with a strong emphasis on search visibility across a broader range of discovery platforms.

Rather than treating Google as the only search environment, its approach includes AI assistants, marketplaces, social platforms and traditional search engines.

Its services include:

• SEO
• PPC
• Paid social
• Content
• Data science
• Ecommerce marketing
• AI search optimisation

Found also operates Luminr, a platform designed to monitor brand visibility across search and AI environments, including ChatGPT and Perplexity.

Who is Found best suited for?

Companies that are looking for specialised search partners to enhance their AI visibility and stay on top of emerging discovery trends are best suited to Found.

However, Found is heavily focused on the UK market and lacks the expertise to enhance a brand’s global visibility, so those looking to boost their position in international markets through large-scale paid media campaigns would be better off talking to a full-service agency.

6. Passion Digital: B2B and professional-services growth

Another niche operator, Passion Digital, is primarily focused on search-based visibility tailored for organisations in B2B, professional services, finance, travel, and other specialised sectors.

For these clients, it offers a comprehensive range of services designed to get them noticed, spanning SEO, paid social media, pay-per-click, digital PR, content strategy, AI search optimisation, and more, along with deep analytics capabilities.

Like NP Digital and Found, it offers a dedicated proposition around generative search and AI visibility.

Its publicly named clients include organisations such as Knight Frank, OneTrust, Mazda, Nutanix and Octopus Investments.

Who is Passion Digital best suited for?

It’s one of the more relevant agencies for B2B and professional-services companies that want to boost their discoverability across search platforms. It bundles SEO, paid media, content, and GEO capabilities into a single offering.

Passion Digital won’t be for everyone, though, as its positioning is laser-focused on the above audiences. Bigger brands that require greater reach may be more satisfied with the larger, global-scale agencies on our list.

Which UK digital marketing agency is right for your business?

Businesses should base their choice on the specific marketing challenge they face:

• NP Digital is the obvious choice for brands that require a full gamut of marketing services spanning  SEO, paid media, content, digital PR, analytics and AI search optimisation.
• Jellyfish may be a better choice for larger organisations that want to focus on integrated media and require technology expertise and regional or global scale.
• Brainlabs is the agency to call when paid media, experimentation and measurement are the main areas of focus.
• Croud should be of interest to companies that require local expertise to tailor their campaigns for multiple specific global markets.
• Found stands out for brands focused specifically on AI search visibility and changing search behaviour.
• Passion Digital is well-suited to B2B and professional services organisations looking for a search-led digital marketing partner.

Frequently asked questions

What are some of the best digital marketing agencies in the UK?

NP Digital is one of the best all-round options on this list, followed by  Jellyfish, Brainlabs, Croud, Found and Passion Digital.

The choice is complicated by the fact that each campaign is unique, and an agency that’s well suited to one may struggle with another. Each agency has its own strengths. For NP Digital, its combination of multiple performance marketing disciplines and AI visibility gives it a significant advantage over many of its rivals. The others are more specialised, with Jellyfish known for its strength in enterprise media, Brainlabs providing expertise in paid media, Croud targeting international results, and Foud strictly focused on AI-search consulting.

Which UK digital marketing agency is best for full-funnel performance marketing?

Brands that prefer to keep their SEO, paid media, content, digital PR, analytics and AI search optimisation activities under a single umbrella will likely be impressed by the vast scope of NP Digital’s services. However, other agencies may be the best option in cases where organisations have a much narrower brief or a much tighter budget. For instance, if a campaign specifically requires paid-media expertise, Found and Passion Digital could be more attractive service providers.

Which digital marketing agencies in the UK offer GEO or AI search optimisation?

Several agencies on this list now offer dedicated services related to generative search or AI visibility.

These include NP Digital, Found, and Passion Digital, all of which have established offerings in Generative Engine Optimisation, Answer Engine Optimisation, or AI search optimisation.

What should businesses look for when choosing a digital marketing agency?

The most critical thing is that the agency can provide credible evidence that its work translates into measurable business outcomes.

Important areas to compare include:

• Relevant channel expertise
• Service breadth
• Measurement and analytics
• Technology
• Market experience
• Client work
• Specialist capabilities
• Experience in AI search visibility

In most cases, brands will first look at their marketing brief and the expertise they require before signing a contract with any agency. Once they’ve established their goals, they will know what’s required from their marketing partner and be able to identify which agency best fits their needs.

Final thoughts

Digital marketing can be a huge money pit due to the large number of good and not-so-good advertising agencies operating around the country. There are established players like NP Digital that cover almost every aspect of marketing, as well as multiple smaller niche operators and AI search-focused providers.

NP Digital stands out for its technological innovation, its enormous scale spanning more than 30 countries, and its ability to verify the impact of its work and provide insights.

As for alternatives, many brands consider Jellyfish for integrated media experiences, Brainlabs for paid media campaigns, Croud for when they want to reach global scale, and Passion Digital for professional services and B2B industries. Just remember that no two organisations are the same, and one firm’s golden ticket could turn out to be another company’s albatross. Always consider your marketing brief and select the best digital marketing agency that fits your requirements.