Permanent job vacancies in UK shrink at fastest pace for four years

Job market data deepens sense of gloom enveloping UK plc as analysts plan close look at effects of NICs rise on hiring

Rachel Reeves says she has ‘iron grip’ on finances as borrowing costs surge

Treasury issues rare second statement in two days after sell-off leaves 10-year bonds at highest level since 2008

Ignore Musk, ignore the critics – you’ll feel the benefit of Labour’s policies in your pocket before long

Despite the doom-mongers, the outlook for the economy, the NHS and vital services is good. Coming months should bear that out, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

UK firms plan price rises as confidence falls to lowest level since Truss budget

BCC survey shows growing concern over planned employer tax rises with 55% of companies planning to hike prices

O2 was tricked into transferring my number to fraudsters. Could I have it back?

‘Sim-swap’ fraud has affected three readers – and dealing with their mobile phone company hasn’t been easy

Swinney to warn opposition of fuelling populism if Scottish budget not passed

Scottish Labour, Greens and Lib Dem MSPs accuse first minister of ‘creating false narrative’

From Trump tariffs to AI: the big economic questions facing governments in 2025

The main issues confronting policymakers around the world seem particularly portentous this new year

UK factory output falls at fastest rate since February amid tax rise fears

Pound drops to nine-month low against dollar after PMI for December signals further contraction in manufacturing

Labour’s economic agenda has all the right ideas – but it’s a race against time to make it work

This government needs to reverse at least three decades of financial woes, and it needs to show progress before its plan gets Trumped, writes economist Michael Jacobs

At best, 2025 will be a year of slow economic recovery. As for the worst? Brace yourselves

With threats of recession, global fracturing and increasingly angry voters, Labour’s sticky start is unlikely to get any easier, says Guardian columnist Larry Elliott

UK property will be a buyers’ market in 2025, analysts predict

‘Cautious optimism’ forecast despite end to key stamp duty relief and fears of higher taxes and interest rates

UK ministers warned housing crisis puts plans for NHS and economy at risk

Damning report reveals million in England are living in poor-quality housing that threatens their health

With a new year ahead there’s no better time for Keir Starmer to start playing good cop

The prime minister should resolve in 2025 to enthuse about his vision, and leave moaning about the Tories and fiscal hardship to his chancellor

The Observer view on the UK economy: don’t despair, signs of growth are emerging

There are hazards ahead, but Rachel Reeves’s big calls in the budget have left the country better placed than the dominant narrative suggests

Living standards 2025 outlook ‘hardly cause for celebration’, says UK thinktank

Household incomes to stagnate or fall but will be offset by better public services, says Resolution Foundation