Decoupling Or Integration? Investigating The Impact of International Market Dynamics on UK Natural Gas Prices

<p dir="ltr">The United Kingdom faces critical challenges due to escalating energy costs, primarily driven by global market volatility, geopolitical tensions, and a sustained decline in domestic natural gas production from the North Sea (Dodds and McDowall, 2013). These issues have significantly exacerbated energy poverty, with over 20% of households struggling to afford energy bills in 2023, placing additional strain on low-income and vulnerable groups (Dodds and McDowall, 2013; Burlinson et al., 2024). This growing affordability crisis has highlighted the urgent need for structural reforms in energy pricing and regulatory mechanisms.</p>