GDP grows 0.1 per cent as UK economy skirts recession February 13, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves received a small boost after the economy unexpectedly grew at the end of last year, ensuring the UK does not face an imminent recession. Output expanded 0.1 per cent in the final three months of the year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), after GDP rose 0.4 per cent in [...]
The Debate: Are growth and net zero incompatible? February 12, 2025 Are growth and net zero really star-crossed lovers, or can they find a happy marriage? We get two writers to hash it out in this week's Debate.
Ratcliffe and Ineos bite back after being sued by New Zealand Rugby February 11, 2025 Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos has blamed the “deindustrialisation of Europe” after the Manchester United co-owner was sued by New Zealand Rugby over its latest cost-cutting measure. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) went public with the dispute on Monday, claiming that Ineos had breached its sponsorship agreement by failing to pay an instalment of the £27m, six-year [...]
Investors are not taking the Bank of England seriously February 11, 2025 The Bank is clearly far more nervous about inflation than many in the City.
Labour’s workers’ rights overhaul has small business owners scared February 11, 2025 As the government’s long-awaited overhaul to workers rights’ returns to the Commons, small business owners are worried not enough has been done enough to accommodate their concerns, writes Ali Lyon. For a company that promises to unleash clients’ growth by helping them overcome knotty engineering issues, Bass Rock consultancy has adopted a staid approach to [...]
Rachel Reeves to meet bank bosses as growth agenda stalls February 10, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to meet top bank bosses this week in the latest attempt to kickstart her growth agenda. The embattled Labour chancellor has reportedly called in top executives at Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest and Nationwide, according to Sky News’ Mark Kleinman. This comes as the government’s growth strategy continues to falter. [...]
Bank of England Chief Economist: Job on inflation not done yet February 7, 2025 "I think that is a reason for caution, for carefulness in the way we proceed with removing monetary policy restriction and cutting bank rate," Pill said.
City split following Bank of England’s interest rate decision February 7, 2025 Analysts are divided about how far and how fast the Bank of England is likely to cut interest rates in the remainder of this year following yesterday’s decision. Rate-setters backed a third 25 basis point rate reduction, which brought the Bank Rate down to an 18-month low of 4.5 per cent. Every member of the [...]
UK construction activity falls sharply as confidence plunges February 6, 2025 UK construction activity fell sharply in January, ending a 10-month streak of expansion as higher borrowing costs, gloomy economic prospects and weak client confidence hit the sector. S&P Global’s UK Construction Purchasing Managers Index fell to 48.1 last month, down from 53.3 in December and well below the 53.4 expected by analysts. “The overall construction [...]
What’s really pushing entrepreneurs towards the exit? February 5, 2025 Two thirds of entrepreneurs considering an exit feel pushed to sell up sooner than planned because of tax rises. If we want to keep wealth creators on British soil, we need to not only support, but celebrate them, says Kevin Barrett Entrepreneurs are on the move and if the UK wants to keep them, it [...]