Here are the business stories making the headlines this morning.
Energy price cap to rise in October amid backlash over loss of some winter fuel payments
The energy price cap will rise to an average annual £1,717 from October, the industry regulator has confirmed as the clock ticks down to the loss of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
The new figure represents a 10% a year - or £12 per month - leap in the typical sum households face paying for gas and electricity when using direct debit.
Ofgem said that the rise was largely due to higher wholesale gas prices and it urged bill-payers to "shop around" as there are fixed rate deals on the market that could offer savings.
It means the cap, which is adjusted every three months and limits what suppliers can charge per unit of energy, will remain around £500 up on the average annual bill levels seen before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
SNP membership continues to plummet as 10,000 leave in a year
The SNP’s membership has continued to plummet as newly released figures show the party has lost 10,000 activists over the last year.
The party’s accounts to the Electoral Commission show it retained 64,525 members as of June this year – down from 74,889 in April last year.
The SNP membership has almost halved from its peak of 125,000 in 2019.
It means the membership has fallen under the leadership of Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf and John Swinney.
Could Scots soon be charged extra 25p for single-use cups?
People in Scotland could be charged an extra 25p if they buy drinks in a single-use cup, under plans outlined by the Scottish government.
Ministers have launched a consultation, external on whether businesses should be required to add an additional charge on top of any existing costs in a bid to reduce the use of disposable cups going to landfill.
The scheme would be similar to the current charges in place for single-use carrier bags, and consumers would be encouraged to use reusable cups.
If it goes ahead, the charge would be introduced across Scotland by the end of 2025.
Families of girls hurt in rollercoaster breakdown sue park
The families of two children who were injured in a rollercoaster incident at a Highland theme park are seeking compensation.
The 12-year-old girls from the Scottish Borders were hurt at Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Carrbridge, near Aviemore, on 12 August 2021.
The families' solicitor, Digby Brown, said the girls suffered significant whiplash injuries and psychological trauma.
It is understood a five figure sum in damages has been sought.
Question marks remain over strength of UK growth
The UK economy is expected to enter a slight slowdown, according to new data, as the debate continues about the inheritance left by the Conservatives.
A host of business sector surveys, including the newly published purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for August, suggest that economic growth is likely to come in at 0.3 to 0.4% in the three months from July.
This would be slightly down on the rates of 0.7% and 0.6% recorded in the first and second quarters.
The acceleration earlier this year made the UK the fastest-growing economy in the G7 in the first half of the year, with output boosted by a growing services sector, greater government spending and lower inflation.