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The UK's gross domestic product grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of 2025, new ONS figures show

UK economy beats forecast to grow by 0.2% in March - ONS

Britain's economy grew more strongly than expected in early 2025, giving a boost to the government and finance minister Rachel Reeves, who nevertheless faces a stiffer test ahead due to her tax hike on businesses and Donald Trump's trade wars.

Business • 15 May

The Bank of England is monitoring closely the inflation pressures in Britain's labour market

UK jobs market shows more signs of cooling

Britain's jobs market showed further signs of a slowdown as employment fell and growth in wages cooled, according to official data published today that is likely to reassure the Bank of England that inflation pressures are waning.

Business • 13 May

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 in favour of the decision to cut rates by a quarter point toi 4.25%

Bank of England cuts rates, sees tariff hit to growth

The Bank of England cut its main interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.25% today, despite an unexpected three-way split among policymakers as US President Donald Trump's tariffs weigh on global economic growth.

Business • 08 May

Despite a slowdown in price growth from levels above 11% in 2022, UK inflation continues to be a concern for consumers

UK inflation slows to 2.6% in March, ONS says

British inflation slowed to its weakest in three months in March and other measures watched by the Bank of England cooled too, but higher bills and employer costs will pressure prices soon against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's trade war.

Business • 16 Apr

UK average weekly earnings rose by 5.9% in the three months to February

UK labour market showing signs of a slowdown

Britain's labour market showed signs of weakening in data published today that suggested a hit to hiring in the run-up to this month's increase in a tax on employers, but wage growth remained strong.

Business • 15 Apr

UK government budget forecasters halved their 2025 forecast to 1%, though they see stronger performance of 1.9% in 2026

UK economy beats forecasts in February

Britain's economy returned to growth in February with its fastest expansion in 11 months, beating economists' expectations and placing it on a slightly firmer footing as it braces for the impact of US tariffs.

Business • 11 Apr

The Bank of England has warned that the major shift in global trade arrangements could 'harm financial stability by depressing growth' in the world's economy

Bank of England warns on rising global stability risks

Risks to the stability of the world's financial system have increased as US tariffs could weigh on global economic growth, the Bank of England has warned.

Business • 09 Apr

UK inflation slowed to an annual rate of 2.8% in February from 3% in January, new figures show today

UK inflation cools more than expected in February - ONS

British inflation slowed more than expected in February, bringing some relief to consumers ahead of a likely new pick-up in price growth and to finance minister Rachel Reeves before her budget update speech later today.

Business • 26 Mar

The UK unemployment rate, based on a survey that the ONS is overhauling and is no longer considered an accurate gauge, held at 4.4%

UK jobs market steadies with BoE set to keep rates steady

The pace of British pay growth was little changed and there were others signs of stability in the jobs market, according to official data published shortly before the Bank of England was expected to keep interest rates on hold.

Business • 20 Mar

The Bank of England has kept UK interest rates on hold today - as expected

Bank of England warns against assumptions of cuts

The Bank of England held interest rates at 4.5% and warned against assumptions that they would be cut over its next few meetings as it grappled with deep uncertainty hanging over the British and world economies.

Business • 20 Mar

British inflation sped up to an annual rate of 3% in January from 2.5% in December

UK inflation increases to 3% in January - ONS

British inflation sped up by more than expected to hit a 10-month high of 3.0% in January and is likely to rise further soon, testing the Bank of England's confidence that price pressures will ease over the longer term.

Business • 19 Feb

Private-sector pay excluding bonuses - the Bank of England's main gauge of domestic inflation pressure - rose by 6.2% in the last three months of 2024

UK wage growth speeds up in final quarter of 2024

British pay growth accelerated in the last three months of 2024, according to official data published today that underscored why the Bank of England has adopted a careful stance about cutting interest rates again despite a weak overall economy.

Business • 18 Feb

UK GDP rose by 0.4% in December from November, much stronger than the 0.1% forecast

UK economy shows surprise growth of 0.1% in Q4 2024

Britain's economy unexpectedly grew by 0.1% in the final quarter of last year, official figures showed today, offering some respite from the downbeat economic picture facing finance minister Rachel Reeves, though longer-term challenges remain.

Business • 13 Feb

BoE's Bailey warns of backlash against regulation

The cost of the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC) should not be forgotten during a backlash against the burden of financial regulation, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said today, warning the bank needed to monitor new vulnerabilities.

Business • 11 Feb

The Bank of England has today lowered interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point to 4.5%

Bank of England cuts interest rates to 4.5%

The Bank of England has today lowered interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, judging a sharp upward revision to its inflation forecasts for this year will prove temporary.

Business • 06 Feb

The UK jobless rate rose slightly to 4.4% in the three months to November - its highest since the three months to May

UK wage growth ticks up but payrolls plunge

British pay growth in the private sector picked up in the three months to November but a plunge in payrolls added to signs of a softer labour market, according to data today that offered mixed signals for Bank of England interest rate-setters.

Business • 21 Jan

UK food sales sank to their lowest level since 2013 in December, new ONS figures show today

UK retail sales fall unexpectedly in December - ONS

British retail sales fell unexpectedly in December, according to data today that raised the risk of an economic contraction in the fourth quarter, adding to the challenges facing finance minister Rachel Reeves.

Business • 17 Jan

The Bank of England is to delay the implementation of tougher global bank capital requirements by a year

Bank of England delays Basel bank capital rules by a year

The Bank of England said today it would delay the implementation of tougher bank capital requirements by one year until January 2027, amid an aggressive pushback against the stricter global standards in the US.

Business • 17 Jan

The UK economy, which was slow to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, showed zero growth in the third quarter when uncertainty about the upcoming budget hit businesses

UK economy barely grew in November after Reeves budget

Britain's economic output struggled to grow in November after finance minister Rachel Reeves announced big tax increases for businesses, official data showed today.

Business • 16 Jan

The UK annual inflation rate fell to 2.5% last month, new figues show today

UK annual inflation dips to 2.5% in December

British inflation unexpectedly slowed last month and core measures of price growth - tracked by the Bank of England - fell more sharply, according to data that will be welcomed by finance minister Rachel Reeves after recent a market selloff.

Business • 15 Jan

Sterling edges up in holiday trading

Sterling ticked higher after searching for direction on Friday, but looked set to wrap up a holiday-thinned trading week lower against a dominating dollar.

Business • 27 Dec 24

The Bank of England held UK interest rates steady at 4.75% today

Bank of England keeps rates steady, policy split widens

The Bank of England kept its main interest rate unchanged at 4.75% today but policymakers became more divided about whether rate cuts were needed to tackle a slowing economy.

Business • 19 Dec 24

UK consumer prices rose by an annual 2.6% in November, up from an increase of 2.3% in October and moving further away from September's 1.7% rise, new figures show today

UK inflation hits 2.6% in November - ONS

British inflation rose to its highest in eight months in November but an underlying measure of price growth watched closely by the Bank of England held steady, offering the central bank a little bit of relief.

Business • 18 Dec 24

Average weekly UK earnings, excluding bonuses, were 5.2% higher in the three months to the end of October than a year ago

UK pay rises by more than expected, adding to BoE worries

British pay rose by more than expected in the three months to October, official data showed today, potentially adding to the Bank of England's caution about how quickly to cut interest rates.

Business • 17 Dec 24

Last month, the Bank of England trimmed its annual growth forecast for the UK economy for 2024 to 1% from 1.25%

UK economy contracts unexpectedly by 0.1% in October

Britain's economy shrank for a second month in October in the run-up to the new government's first budget, the first back-to-back falls in output since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Business • 13 Dec 24