UK consumer sentiment takes a tumble; bad weather threaten fruit supplies but boosts Morocco’s wheat crop – as it happened

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as UK households grow more worried about debts

Britons feeling ‘dismal’ about finances amid mounting debts, survey finds

Consumer confidence at its lowest level in two years, as young people in particular face money pressures

Bank of England should cut rates to boost consumer spending, says TUC

Union analysis finds consumers lag behind international peers as some rate-setters remain anxious about inflation

Even amid rising economic uncertainty, now is not the time to hug your job

In a rapidly changing job market, it’s not necessarily good for workers to cling to their current employment

US fixation on the hard-hat economy and making manufacturing great again makes little sense

The dream of greasy overalls is driven by nostalgia and doesn’t justify policies that harm US consumers

‘It’s been life-changing’: young Britons on why they left the UK to work abroad

Skilled workers facing a tough jobs market and high rents at home reveal how they have built new lives elsewhere, from Vancouver to Dubai

UK migration could be negative this year – how will that hit the economy?

Universities, builders and health trusts are feeling the squeeze, as thinktank says effect of zero net migration could be similar to Brexit

Reeves appoints higher pay advocate to fight skills shortages as chief economic adviser

Labour market expert Prof Brian Bell has called for better pay and conditions in key sectors, particularly social care

Businesses must take responsibility for biodiversity loss – for their sake as much as ours

Scientists believe we’re seeing the largest loss of life since the dinosaurs – and it’s a risk to the global economy. Governments and companies need to work together on solutions

Reeves urged to reassure MPs over public finances amid £6bn-a-year Send costs

City analysts say financial market investors will be worried if cost is deducted from budget surplus

UK economy grows by only 0.1% amid falling business investment

GDP in last three months of 2025 also hit by weak consumer spending, with little momentum going into this year

EU leaders agree to move ahead with ‘Buy European’ policy

Ursula von der Leyen promises action plan to boost and protect sectors including defence, AI and clean tech

Declines in health and education in poor countries ‘harming earning potential’

World Bank says children born today could earn 51% more over lifetime if their country’s human capital improved

UK GDP: Chancellor Rachel Reeves predicts ‘stronger growth this year’ after UK economy ends 2025 ‘in the slow lane’ – business live

Rolling coverage of the UK’s new GDP report, showing growth of just 0.1% in October-December and 1.3% across 2025 UK economy limps along at 0.1% growth – but there are reasons for optimism in 2026

UK economy limps along at 0.1% growth – but there are reasons for optimism in 2026

Consumers and businesses are not yet taking the hint despite six interest rate cuts