1 hour ago UK economy posts surprise 0.3% growth in three months to June

GDP figure slower than previous quarter but beats expectations thanks to 0.4% expansion last monthThe UK economy grew at a faster rate than expected in the second quarter, official figures show, despite pressure on households and businesses from tax increased and Donald Trump’s global trade war.Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed growth in gross domestic product (GDP) slowed to 0.3% in the three months to the end of June, down from a rate of 0.7% in the first quarter. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago Unemployment soars by 200,000 under Labour with as firms blame national insurance hike

The jobless total stood at 1.67 million in the three months to June this year, the highest since the pandemic, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Politics

49 h. ago Britain's wage rate stagnates and job market cools down as inflation rises

The rate of UK unemployment remained at 4.7 per cent  in the three months to June, compared with the three months to May, the Office for National Statistics said.

Economics

6 d. ago Admin worker, 63, who stole £80k from NHS trust and sent it to her online boyfriend in Nigeria avoids prison

Hyacinth Blair, of Lewisham, London , took the cash from the South London and Maudsley trust over roughly 18 months, from June 2021 until January 2023. Pictured: File photo

Economics

6 d. ago WPP reveals around 4,000 roles cut in past six months as profits tumble

The group reported pre-tax profits tumbling to £98 million for the six months to June 30, down from £338 million a year earlier.

Politics

6 d. ago Potential victims of modern slavery at record high, latest figures show

The latest Government data, published on Wednesday, gives figures for the three months from April to June 2025.

Events

7 d. ago Honda quarterly profits drop by half as carmaker feels effects of Trump tariffs

Fall in operating profits also due to losses on electric car sales in US but drop is less than manufacturer estimatedBusiness live – latest updatesThe Japanese carmaker Honda has reported a 50% drop in quarterly profits as it counted the cost of Donald Trump’s tariffs and electric vehicle policies, even as it said the full impact would be less than its worst expectations.The manufacturer’s operating profits fell by half to 244bn yen (£1.2bn) in the three months to June, according to financial results published on Wednesday. That was mainly because of a 124bn yen hit from tariffs, as well as 113bn yen in losses on electric car sales in the US. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago UK to bear transport costs of ‘one in, one out’ asylum seeker deal with France

Treaty can be ended by either side at a month’s notice and France can refuse returns on certain groundsThe UK will pay the costs of transporting asylum seekers to and from France under Keir Starmer’s “one in, one out” deal with Emmanuel Macron, it has emerged.The deal will have to be renewed by 11 June next year, and can be ended at a month’s notice by either side, documents made public by the government indicate. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Knife throwing and cheeseburger spinning: the agony and ecstasy of being a viral trickshot video star

Think you could throw a basketball off a 540ft dam, into a hoop – while blindfolded? Meet the talented and ludicrously patient people putting hours into the internet’s most joyful (and pointless) clipsFor much of the month of June 2023, David and Daniel Hulett sat in their parents’ basement in Virginia throwing five-cent coins in the air. First David would flip his nickel. Then Daniel would flip his nickel. They were trying to get the coins to land on their edge, an occurrence they knew was vanishingly improbable, but not impossible. This was their work.After three or four days, doubts began to set in. “When you’ve been doing it for so long, you’re like: the next one has to be it!” says Daniel, 26, the elder and generally chirpier of the two. “You get really optimistic. And then it doesn’t happen and you feel like the world is ending. It’s almost physically painful. You get messed up.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Supermarket follows Sainsbury's 17% hike by increasing cost of same shopping essential

It comes as food price inflation rose for the third month in a row in June, to its highest level since February 2024

Economics

3 w. ago Festivalgoers help drive Burberry to best sales performance in 18 months

Music fans snap up wellies, scarves and light jackets, with shares rising 4% on back of better-than-expected performanceShoppers snapping up Burberry wellies, scarves and light jackets to wear at music festivals have helped the fashion brand to its best sales performance in 18 months despite lacklustre spending by tourists around the world.Sales of the luxury British brand fell by 2% to £433m in the three months to the end of June, with a 1% decline at established stores, an improvement from the 6% fall in the previous quarter and the best performance since Christmas 2023. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Energy giant SSE sees UK dry spell hit water power generation

SSE’s hydro generation dropped by about 40% in the three months to June, compared with the same period a year ago.

Events

4 w. ago UK inflation rises unexpectedly to 3.6% driven by food and fuel prices

Annual increase in June follows two months of negative growth and with speculation mounting over tax risesBusiness live – latest updatesUK inflation unexpectedly rose in June driven by fuel and food prices, according to official figures, underscoring the challenge facing the chancellor, Rachel Reeves.The Office for National Statistics said the consumer prices index rose by 3.6% last month, up from a reading of 3.4% in May. City economists had forecast an unchanged reading. Continue reading...

Economics

4 w. ago UK inflation rises unexpectedly to 3.6% as Labour faces economic scrutiny

Annual increase in June follows two months of negative growth and with speculation mounting over tax risesBusiness live – latest updatesUK inflation unexpectedly rose in June, according to official figures, adding to the pressure on the chancellor, Rachel Reeves.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the consumer prices index rose by 3.6% last month, up from a reading of 3.4% in May. City economists had forecast an unchanged reading. Continue reading...

Economics

4 w. ago Inflation jumped in June hitting its highest mark in months amid Trump’s tariffs threat

Inflation rose 0.3 percentage points in the last month and 2.7 percent in the past year

Economics