2 h. ago UK payrolls down by 178,000 over last year; Bundesbank chief defends central bank independence after Trump’s attacks on Powell – business live

UK company payrolls have fallen by 178,000 in last year, pushing unemployment rate to four-year highAnalysis: The rise in unemployment shows the UK jobs market is cooling, but it is not collapsingDeutsche Bank’s chief UK economist Sanjay Raja agrees that the UK’s labour market is continuing to cool, with both payrolls and vacancies down.Raja explains:Redundancies remain elevated with the May data showing a 114k increase in the three months to May – its highest level in three months. Jobs demand remains weak as hiring plans are near a standstill.This will continue to see unemployment rise – but we think this will be a slow grind higher as opposed to a whipsaw higher. For the MPC, despite the bump higher in inflation, the loosening in labour market should give the BoE reason to proceed with a gradual dial down of restrictive policy.The fallout in the labour market from the hikes in National Insurance Contributions and the minimum wage is not as big as previously thought. Even so, as p...

Economics

5 h. ago The rise in unemployment shows the UK jobs market is cooling, but it is not collapsing

Despite the latest poor data, wage growth remains resilient and there are ‘signs of confidence returning’UK unemployment rises as jobs market ‘weakens’Business live – latest updatesAnaemic economic growth, rising inflation, and a worsening outlook in the jobs market. If the inheritance from the Conservatives had been bad, the situation a year in to the new Labour government do not look much better.The latest figures show unemployment nudged up to 4.7% in May, hitting the highest level in four years, while wage growth slowed for a third consecutive month, and employers cut back on hiring. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago Rise in unemployment shows UK jobs market is cooling, but it is not collapsing

Despite latest poor data wage growth remains resilient, and there are ‘signs of confidence returning’UK unemployment rises as jobs market ‘weakens’Business live – latest updatesAnaemic economic growth, rising inflation, and a worsening outlook in the jobs market. If the inheritance from the Conservatives had been bad, the situation a year in to the new Labour government does not look much better.The latest figures show unemployment nudged up to 4.7% in May, hitting the highest level in four years, while wage growth slowed for a third consecutive month, and employers cut back on hiring. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago UK unemployment rises to highest in four years due to slowing wage growth

The figures point towards further pressure in the UK labour market

Politics

7 h. ago UK unemployment jumps to highest since 2021 as wage growth slows

The Office for National Statistics said the rate of UK unemployment increased to 4.7% in the three months to May.

Politics

25 h. ago 'Recession pop' and new Christian music surge in the US as streaming growth slows

More music is being streamed than ever before, but the rate of growth has slowed

Politics

2 w. ago Business news live: Government faces criticism for Cash ISA cuts and UK house price growth slows

Stock markets updates and business news from Monday

Economics

2 w. ago Relief for Reeves as 0.7% growth is confirmed for first quarter of 2025 but economists warn slowdown is already hitting amid tax hike fears

Official figures showed the powerhouse services sector expanding by 0.7 per cent between January and March.

Events

3 w. ago Business news live: Oil prices latest as FTSE 100 rises and UK pay growth slows to below inflation rate

Stock markets latest updates and business news on Tuesday

Economics

3 w. ago Business news live: FTSE 100 rises and new data shows UK pay growth slows to below inflation rate

Stock markets latest updates and business news on Tuesday

Economics

3 w. ago Goldman Sachs warns Brent crude could hit $100 per barrel if strait of Hormuz is disrupted; Trump demands cheaper oil – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe strait of Hormuz: what is it, and why does it matter to global trade?Price of oil could spike after Iran’s parliament votes to close key shipping routeThe eurozone economy has continued to flirt with stagnation this month, with little growth in its key sectors.The latest survey of purchasing managers across the euro area, just released by S&P Global, shows that the eurozone services sector is stalling this month, while factory growth slowed.“The eurozone economy is struggling to gain momentum. For six months now, growth has been minimal, with activity in the service sector stagnating and manufacturing output rising only moderately.In Germany, there are signs of a cautious improvement in the situation, but France continues to drag its feet. The momentum evident in the official growth figure of 0.6 percent for the first quarter is unlikely to have carried over into the second quarter, especially since special factors su...

Events

3 w. ago Goldman Sachs warns Brent crude could rise over $100 per barrel if Strait of Hormuz is disrupted – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe strait of Hormuz: what is it, and why does it matter to global trade?Price of oil could spike after Iran’s parliament votes to close key shipping routeThe eurozone economy has continued to flirt with stagnation this month, with little growth in its key sectors.The latest survey of purchasing managers across the euro area, just released by S&P Global, shows that the eurozone services sector is stalling this month, while factory growth slowed.“The eurozone economy is struggling to gain momentum. For six months now, growth has been minimal, with activity in the service sector stagnating and manufacturing output rising only moderately.In Germany, there are signs of a cautious improvement in the situation, but France continues to drag its feet. The momentum evident in the official growth figure of 0.6 percent for the first quarter is unlikely to have carried over into the second quarter, especially since special factors su...

Events

3 w. ago IMF chief warns of broader risks from US strikes on Iran, as oil falls back from five

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsPrice of oil could spike after Iran’s parliament votes to close key shipping routeThe eurozone economy has continued to flirt with stagnation this month, with little growth in its key sectors.The latest survey of purchasing managers across the euro area, just released by S&P Global, shows that the eurozone services sector is stalling this month, while factory growth slowed.“The eurozone economy is struggling to gain momentum. For six months now, growth has been minimal, with activity in the service sector stagnating and manufacturing output rising only moderately.In Germany, there are signs of a cautious improvement in the situation, but France continues to drag its feet. The momentum evident in the official growth figure of 0.6 percent for the first quarter is unlikely to have carried over into the second quarter, especially since special factors such as Ireland’s unusual jump in growth inflated this figure. Continue rea...

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Russia ‘on verge of recession’, Putin minister tells economic showcase

Drone attacks on Kharkiv and Odesa; don’t forget about Ukraine because of Iran-Israel fighting, say Kyiv officials. What we know on day 1,213 Vladimir Putin’s economy minister has warned that Russia is “on the verge” of recession as he spoke on the second day of a signature event meant to bolster economic confidence. The minister, Maxim Reshetnikov, said at the St Petersburg economic forum that his view was based on “current business sentiment and indicators” pointing to a slowdown. “Everything else depends on our decisions,” Reshetnikov said, calling for the central bank to show a “little love for the economy”.Russia’s central bank raised interest rates to an eye-watering 21% in October 2024 to combat inflation and kept them at that level until this month when it eased them to 20%. Russia’s economic growth slowed to 1.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, the lowest quarterly figure in two years. Prices are rising across the economy driven up by massive government spending ...

Politics