54 h. ago Trump tariffs: US economy saw stark drop in GDP growth as businesses rushed to secure imports

Revised data shows economy shrank more than previously thought as president’s global trade war loomed and consumer spending softened

Economics

4 d. ago More than 70 per cent of Brits admit pulling sickies to look after poorly dogs

Pet owners are having to take sick days from work to ensure their dogs are ok, new research has revealed. The level of time off has seen the economy take a hard hit

Politics

8 d. ago Russia’s economy minister warns that the country is on the brink of recession

Russia’s economy has been hit with a slew of sanctions after the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine

Events

2 w. 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

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves hit with headache after economy shrinks amid fresh fears of tax hikes

The Office for National Statistics said the UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April. Meanwhile, experts are warning that council tax bills will rise following Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spending review

Economics

2 w. 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

2 w. ago Blow for Rachel Reeves after UK economy shrinks by more than expected

The UK economy contracted by 0.3% in April, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Politics

2 w. ago 2020s on course to be weakest decade for global economy since 1960s, says World Bank

Washington-based lender cuts its forecast for world GDP growth, blaming Donald Trump tariffsBusiness live – latest updatesThe World Bank has cut its forecasts for growth, blaming Donald Trump’s trade war and says the 2020s are on course to be the weakest decade for the global economy since the 1960s.In its twice-yearly Global Economic Prospects report, the Washington-based lender reduced its forecast for global GDP growth this year to 2.3%, down from 2.7% in January. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Trump tariffs latest: Immigration crackdown will end strong US growth, warns JP Morgan

Trump tariffs latest: Immigration crackdown will end strong US growth, warns JP Morgan  The Telegraph

Events

3 w. ago Services sector returns to growth in major boost to UK economy

Britain's services sector returned to tepid growth last month after jitters about Donald Trump's tariffs caused the sector to shrink in April for the first time in a year and a half.

Politics

3 w. ago Bank of England chief warns interest rate cuts now 'more uncertain' as OECD downgrades growth forecasts and says inflation will 'linger'

Andrew Bailey said the prospects for easing the burden on Brits was 'shrouded in a lot more uncertainty', largely due to Donald Trump 's trade war.

Events

3 w. ago Reeves urged to raise taxes and cut public spending as UK growth to stall after Trump tariffs

Labour chancellor under pressure from the OECD ahead of upcoming spending review

Economics

3 w. 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

3 w. ago Global economy to slow as Donald Trump’s trade wars hit growth, OECD warns – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as OECD forecasts global growth will slow to 2.9% in 2025 and 2026UK will slump to 1% growth next year as Trump tariffs bite, says OECDUS firms say Trump trade war is hitting production as dollar nears three-year lowUS economic growth is expected to slow markedly to 1.6% in 2025 and 1.5% in 2026, the OECD says.That’s relatively weak growth by recent standard, and slower than the “robust” growth of 2.8% recorded in 2024.Annual headline inflation is set to pick up to 3.9% by end-2025 due to higher import prices but is expected to ease throughout 2026, aided by moderate GDP growth and higher unemployment.Risks to the growth projection are skewed to the downside, including a more substantial slowing of economic activity in the face of policy uncertainty, greater-than-expected upward pressure on prices from tariff increases, and large financial market corrections. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago UK will slump to 1% growth next year as Trump tariffs bite, says OECD

US, Mexico and Canada economies likely to be worst affected by ongoing tariff battles, says forecastBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s economic growth will be slower than expected this year and next as the damage caused by Donald Trump’s tariff war hits trade and investment, according to a gloomy forecast by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).The international body downgraded its expectations for this year and next from a forecast made in March, pushing down UK growth from 1.4% to 1.3% in 2025 and from 1.2% to 1% next year. Constraints on Whitehall spending and higher than expected inflation also played a part in a downgrade, the OECD said. Continue reading...

Politics

last month Trump fury over US court bid to block tariffs – as experts warn uncertainty could hit economy

A ruling by three US judges has been described as ‘good news’ for countries negotiating trade deals with Trump but brought warnings of uncertainty and confusion

Events