Trump says Biden caused the economic downturn. That’s malarkey

The US president is blaming ‘Biden’s economy’. In fact, there is one key cause of the poor showing – and it’s not his predecessor

Treasury threatens Defra with £4bn bill if Thames Water nationalised

Exclusive: Treasury threat an example of ‘scare tactics’ to help force through private sector deal, sources suggest

Trump tariffs cause fastest slump in British factory export orders in five years

Decline in output and new orders in April allied with rising uncertainty is prompting layoffs, survey finds

Trump ‘makes trade deal with UK second-order priority’ in blow to ministers

US officials have split negotiations with countries into three phases, sources say, with South Korea taking priority

No extra money for NHS staff and teacher pay rises, warns Treasury

Sources say pay increases will not be covered by borrowing and must come from existing budgets, creating possibility of strikes

African diplomats urge UK government to back bill to speed up debt restructurings

Countries are struggling to manage expensive loans, with much of debt transacted through London

US consumer sentiment sees largest drop since 1990 after Trump tariff chaos

Experts warn of slowing economy after score based on Americans’ financial outlooks fell by 32% since January

Stunned resignation and foreboding: a week in Trump’s shadow at IMF

Few policymakers mention US president by name, but his tariffs dominate IMF-World Bank meeting

Reeves holds ‘positive and upbeat’ trade talks with Bessent

Chancellor discusses ‘prosperity deal’ with Treasury secretary Scott Bessent but US calls for reduced tariffs on car imports to UK

Rachel Reeves dashes hopes of early breakthrough in UK-US trade deal

Chancellor says UK is ‘not going to rush a deal’ and rejects new US demands on agricultural products

Older workers: would you be able and willing to stay in work until you’re 70?

As the IMF recommends that fit and sharp older workers delay retirement to offset ageing population trends, we’d like to hear what people make of such proposals

Travel body accuses government of ‘sabotaging’ UK tourism industry

WTTC says 5.3% decline in tourist spend suggests policies such as increased air passenger duty have had impact

Reeves to make case for free global trade at Washington IMF talks

Officials say UK faces a ‘new economic reality’, but chancellor will not strike US deal at any cost

The Observer view on poverty: promises won’t get children off the breadline

It’s not good enough for Labour to say that there’s no money to tackle the problem – raising taxes risks losing a few votes but for the greater good

Reeves to make case for trade deal in first meeting with US treasury secretary

Chancellor will push for deal that protects British car, steel and pharmaceutical industries amid tariff uncertainty