Tag Archives: bank of england

Britain’s labor market showed fresh signs of strain in March, with unemployment rising unexpectedly and payroll figures pointing to a sharper slowdown in hiring activity as businesses face mounting cost pressures and growing geopolitical uncertainty. According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday, the UK …

Key Takeaways Q1 GDP beats expectations: UK economy grew 0.6% quarter-on-quarter, accelerating from Q4 2025’s 0.2% rise. Annual growth strong: GDP rose 1.1% year-on-year in Q1 — well above the 0.8% expected. March defies forecasts: Monthly GDP rose 0.3% in March, beating expectations for a 0.1% drop despite the Iran …

Key Takeaways Headline beat: UK retail sales jumped 0.7% month-on-month in March, dramatically outperforming the 0.1% gain analysts had forecast. Annual strength: Year-on-year retail sales climbed 1.7%, comfortably above the 1.3% expected by the market. Excluding fuel: Monthly sales excluding fuel edged up 0.2%, topping predictions of no change from …

British retail sales volumes declined in February, highlighting growing pressure on consumer spending as households brace for the economic impact of rising energy prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. According to data released on Friday by the Office for National Statistics, retail sales volumes fell by 0.4% …

The UK labour market showed signs of stabilization in February, with steady unemployment and stronger-than-expected job growth, even as rising energy costs threaten to weigh on the economic outlook. Unemployment held at 5.2%, below expectations of 5.3%, while payrolls increased by 20,000, outperforming forecasts for a decline of 5,000. Employment …

U.K. private sector activity expanded at its fastest pace in nearly two years during February, driven by a strong rebound in manufacturing output and a sustained recovery in new business, according to flash PMI data released on Friday. The S&P Global Flash UK Composite Output Index rose to 53.9 in …

U.K. retail sales posted a strong start to the year in January, significantly outperforming expectations and building on December’s gains, suggesting that consumers entered the new year with a greater degree of confidence than anticipated. According to data released Friday by the Office for National Statistics, retail sales volumes rose …

The U.K. economy expanded only modestly in the final month of 2025, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of England will remain under pressure to continue easing monetary policy as the new year unfolds. Data released on Thursday showed that gross domestic product grew by just 0.1% in December, marking a …

Private sector activity in the U.K. expanded at its fastest pace in nearly two years in January, according to S&P Global’s latest flash PMI data, signaling a stronger start to 2026 for the economy. The composite PMI rose to 53.9 from 51.4 in December, marking the ninth straight month above …

Britain’s annual inflation rate climbed more than anticipated in December, reinforcing the case for caution at the Bank of England and raising doubts over whether policymakers will cut interest rates at their February meeting. Consumer prices rose 3.4% year-on-year, exceeding forecasts of 3.3% and edging higher from November’s 3.2%. While …