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UK inflation unexpectedly holds at 3.8% in boost for BoE

British inflation and a key underlying measure of price growth both unexpectedly held steady in September, offering some relief to finance minister Rachel Reeves ahead of her November budget.

Business • 22 Oct

UK economy returns to growth - but only just

Britain's economy returned to growth in August when it expanded by a marginal 0.1% from July, official data showed today, offering a little bit of relief to finance minister Rachel Reeves as she prepares her November budget.

Business • 16 Oct

Reeves wants only one full budget assessment a year

British finance minister Rachel Reeves said today that she would like the country's budget watchdog to provide just one full assessment of her fiscal plans a year rather than two as it would reduce policy uncertainty for businesses and households.

Business • 29 Sep

The welcome sign at the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport with a list airlines on dispaly.

Gatwick second runway plan could create thousands of jobs

Gatwick Airport's £2.2 billion second runway plan could create thousands of jobs and help "kickstart the economy", British Chancellor Rachel Reeves said.

Business • 22 Sep

UK borrowing shoots higher, deepening Reeves' challenges

Britain's borrowing has surged past the official forecasts that underpin the government's tax and spending plans, compounding the challenge facing finance minister Rachel Reeves in her November budget.

Business • 19 Sep

Rachel Reeves, UK chancellor of the exchequer, smiling at the camera

UK economy stagnated in July, GDP data shows

Britain's economy recorded zero monthly growth in July after a sharp drop in factory output, in line with expectations for a slower start to the second half of 2025.

Business • 12 Sep

UK retailers warn Reeves tax rises could push up prices

Major British retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Boots have issued a warning to finance minister Rachel Reeves that raising taxes in the autumn Budget could contradict her plans to improve UK living standards.

Business • 21 Aug

a pile of 20 and 50 pound sterling notes

UK government borrowing less than expected in July

Government borrowing in the UK slowed to a lower-than-expected £1.1 billion in July, providing some relief for Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the run-up to the autumn budget.

Business • 21 Aug

The green UK job centre plus sign outside an office

UK hiring falls but wage growth stays high

Britain's jobs market has weakened again, official data showed, with payrolls falling for a sixth month and vacancies dropping further, but wage growth stayed strong, underscoring why the Bank of England is so cautious about cutting interest rates.

Business • 12 Aug

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the House of Commons yesterday

Latest UK bond rout draws Truss comparisons

British government bonds tumbled sharply yesterday as a tearful appearance by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in parliament a day after the government backed down on its welfare reforms reignited concern over Britain's finances.

Business • 03 Jul

British finance minister Rachel Reeves described the priorities of her spending review as those of 'working people' so that they are better off

UK's Reeves sets out new spending plans

British finance minister Rachel Reeves has prioritised spending on health, defence and infrastructure projects to drive economic growth, in a bid to reboot the Labour government's offer of a brighter future to increasingly disillusioned voters.

Business • 11 Jun

Tariff tensions to drag down UK economy next year - IMF

Trade tensions linked to US tariff plans will reduce UK economic growth next year, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Business • 27 May

UK finance minister Rachel Reeves is facing pressure on the country's public finances

UK public finances show bigger than expected deficit

Britain's government kicked off the 2025/26 financial year in April by again borrowing more than expected, suggesting no let-up in the pressure on the public finances and finance minister Rachel Reeves ahead of a major review of spending.

Business • 22 May

UK inflation jumped to a higher-than-expected annual rate of 3.5% in April from 2.6% in March

UK inflation jumps to higher-than-expected 3.5%, ONS says

Britain suffered a bigger-than-expected inflation surge in April, including in areas watched closely by the Bank of England which investors now believe will have to slow its already gradual pace of interest rate cuts.

Business • 21 May

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' non-dom tax crackdown has had an impact on the Sunday Times Rich List

UK sees fall in billionaires after non-dom tax crackdown

The UK has suffered the biggest fall in billionaires on record after Chancellor Rachel Reeves' non-dom tax crackdown, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

Business • 16 May

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves

Reeves' Spring statement at a glance

Rachel Reeves has used her spring statement to announce a series of public spending cuts in order to balance the books without raising taxes.

Business • 26 Mar

UK finance minister Rachel Reeves leaves 11 Downing Street ahead of the announcement of the Spring Statement in the House of Commons

UK finance minister Reeves slows her spending plans

British finance minister Rachel Reeves trimmed her plans for spending increases in a budget update today that provided some reassurance for investors, but the risks of a global trade war could put fresh tax hikes on the table later this year.

Business • 26 Mar

The S&P Global flash UK composite purchasing managers' index (PMI) reported a reading of 52 in March, up from 50.5 in February

UK private sector growth rises to six month high in March

Activity across the UK's private sector has grown at the fastest rate for six months after strong trading in the service industry, according to new data.

Business • 24 Mar

UK finance minister Rachel Reeves is expected to announce measures in her Spring Statement on Wednesday to restore her £10 billion of room for manoeuvre to meet her fiscal targets

UK finance minister says she will stick to fiscal rules

Britain will stick to its fiscal rules despite global upheaval, finance minister Rachel Reeves said over the weekend, raising the prospect of thousands of public sector job cuts in this week's budget update which is likely to include further savings.

Business • 24 Mar

UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is set to announce cuts to her spending plans next week

UK government borrows more than expected

Britain borrowed more than expected last month, according to official figures published today that showed the scale of the challenge facing finance minister Rachel Reeves who is expected to announce cuts to her spending plans next week.

Business • 21 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

The UK's economy unexpectedly fell by 0.1% in January compared with December

UK economy sputters in January, underlining challenges

Britain's economy contracted unexpectedly in January, extending a run of stop-start data that has beset finance minister Rachel Reeves' attempts to spark growth, before an update to parliament on the economic outlook.

Business • 14 Mar

More bad news for British finance minister Rachel Reeves today

UK's Reeves faces budget pressure after tax shortfall

British finance minister Rachel Reeves received more bad news on the public finances today after January tax receipts came in lower than expected, barely a month before she gives an update on whether she is on course to meet her borrowing targets.

Business • 21 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

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves

UK backs third runway at London's Heathrow Airport

The UK government will back plans for a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport, finance minister Rachel Reeves said today, saying the project could create over 100,000 jobs in the economy.

Business • 29 Jan