33 h. ago UK’s FTSE 100 share index hits record closing high despite economy shrinking in April – business live

UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, biggest fall since October 2023, as trade with the US slumped.. but FTSE 100 ends at new record closeFull story: UK economy shrinks by 0.3% as as exports hit by Trump trade warNicholas Hyett, Investment Manager at Wealth Club, blames “a cocktail of headwinds to growth” for the 0.3% fall in UK GDP in April.Hyett says:In the very short term the change to Stamp Duty rules have put the legal and property services on ice - with legal activities down 10.2% month-on-month.New barriers to trade with the US and changes to employment costs, from a higher living wage and increased national insurance contributions, are a longer term challenge.“The 0.3% m/m fall in real GDP in April supports our view that the strength in Q1 was unsustainable. This won’t prompt the Bank of England to cut interest rates next Thursday. But it is one more piece of news pointing to another cut in August.”We still expect the Bank Rate to be maintained at 4.25% in the June meeting, t...

Economics

38 h. ago Largest ever plunge in UK exports to US as Trump tariffs hurt growth; dollar hits three

UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, biggest fall since October 2023, as trade with the US slumpedFull story: UK economy shrinks by 0.3% as as exports hit by Trump trade warNicholas Hyett, Investment Manager at Wealth Club, blames “a cocktail of headwinds to growth” for the 0.3% fall in UK GDP in April.Hyett says:In the very short term the change to Stamp Duty rules have put the legal and property services on ice - with legal activities down 10.2% month-on-month.New barriers to trade with the US and changes to employment costs, from a higher living wage and increased national insurance contributions, are a longer term challenge.“The 0.3% m/m fall in real GDP in April supports our view that the strength in Q1 was unsustainable. This won’t prompt the Bank of England to cut interest rates next Thursday. But it is one more piece of news pointing to another cut in August.”We still expect the Bank Rate to be maintained at 4.25% in the June meeting, to allow still troubling earnings growth ...

Politics

64 h. ago Spending Review 2025: what time is Rachel Reeves' announcement today – what UK government plans mean for you

Big pledges on housing, healthcare, and transport are expected, but questions remain over where cuts may fall 🚆

Politics

66 h. ago Rental price growth falls across London while national slowdown reaches four

London rents rose by 1.5 per cent between April 2024 and April 2025 — a marked slowdown on growth in the previous year

Politics

4 d. ago Consumer spending slows to lowest growth of the year amid falling confidence

Gaming bucked the faltering sales trend due to popular new releases, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.

Politics

8 d. ago Eurozone interest rate cut expected; Tesla’s UK sales drop by a third – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe UK car market has returned to growth, new data shows, but sales of Teslas have fallen by a third.Overall car registrations rose by 1.6% in May, to 150,070 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). That’s the strongest May for new car sales since 2021, but 18% below pre-Covid levels. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Dollar General posts record sales as bargain stores attract more people anxious about the economy

Dollar General set a quarterly sales record of $10.44 billion and it upgraded its annual profit and sales outlook as Americans tighten their budgets and spend more at dollar stores and off-price retailers amid economic uncertainty

Economics

1 week ago OECD downgrades forecasts for UK growth as Trump tariffs hit world economy

Global growth is expected to fall below 3% for the first time since the pandemic

Politics

2 w. ago Businesses demand action to boost growth as Scotland falls behind UK as a whole

Economy shrinks in February and March with GDP growth for first quarter sluggish, new Scottish Government data reveals

Politics

2 w. ago Lowest ever price for this Ninja air fryer and slow cooker thanks to 48% discount

A rare discount has slashed the Ninja ON400UK to its lowest ever price – and at just £119.99, it’s a cracking deal on one of the brand’s most versatile multi-cookers.

Society

3 w. ago Homeowners spend on renovations and repairs despite the uncertain economy and higher prices

U.S. homeowners are boosting spending on home renovation projects, bucking a broader pullback by consumers amid diminished confidence in the economy

Economics

3 w. ago EasyJet on track for record year as travellers shrug off economic anxieties

Low-cost airline targets highest-ever profits as buoyant consumers continue to spend on travel

Economics

3 w. ago Target will only raise prices as a ‘last resort’ despite concerns over tariffs

Sales at Target fell sharply in the first quarter and the retailer warned they will slip this year as consumers, worried over the impact of tariffs, pull back on spending

Economics

3 w. ago Target sees massive drop in sales and warns customers aren’t spending over tariff fears

Sales at Target fell sharply in the first quarter and the retailer warned they will slip this year as consumers, worried over the impact of tariffs, pull back on spending

Economics