Fear of a tariff ‘Trumpcession’ puts pressure on Bank and Fed over interest rates

A trade war could push up inflation when both the UK and US economies really need cheaper borrowing. So what’s a central bank to do?

If even Germany is embracing higher spending, why on earth can’t Labour?

Russia has pushed Europe into a quasi-Keynesian approach to the defence budget. Only Britain insists on cutting help to the sick to pay for security

Benefits cuts now? What’s the point of a Labour MP who votes for something so cruel, tin-eared and short-sighted?

Treating disabled and sick people callously flies in the face of all the party stands for – the government must rethink its plans, writes the MP John McDonnell

‘They’re on. They’re off. We can’t plan’ – bourbon makers dazed by Trump tariffs

The president’s chaotic policy on import duties makes planning impossible, says the CEO of a Kentucky distillery – and state Republicans are unhappy, too

Economists urge Rachel Reeves to bend fiscal rules instead of cutting welfare

Calls for chancellor to exclude defence from rules or raise taxes in response to spending pressure at spring statement

UK economy shrinks in January; stocks and euro jump on German debt deal – as it happened

UK economy unexpectedly contracts by 0.1% in January in blow to the chancellor ahead of spring statement; Friedrich Merz declares: ‘Germany is back’

UK economy shrinks unexpectedly in blow to Rachel Reeves

ONS data showing 0.1% fall in GDP in January comes less than two weeks before chancellor’s spring statement

Shrinking economy offers unhelpful backdrop for Rachel Reeves’s growth push

GDP goes in wrong direction as chancellor puts final touches to fiscal plans

Ed Davey calls on Keir Starmer to back Canada against Trump attacks

Lib Dem leader says PM should make public show of support for ally against ‘shocking attacks’ on its sovereignty

Why is Keir Starmer’s government seeking to cut the benefits bill?

Labour targeting sickness and disability benefits that have ballooned amid increasingly ageing and unwell population

UK farmers’ incomes stagnant since the 1970s, report finds

Exclusive: Research shows drop in produce prices as households consume more imported and ultra-processed food

UK drops down list of affluent nations after decade of stagnation, NIESR finds

Districts in Birmingham now ranked below poorest areas of France, Malta and Slovenia as institute urges rethink on planned welfare cuts

Poor results at Puma and Zara owner fuel fears of slowing US consumer demand

Inditex shares plunge as some analysts say data suggests falling demand across Americas amid tariff uncertainty

Financial watchdog scraps plan to ‘name and shame’ UK firms under investigation

FCA move follows longstanding pressure against new public interest test for announcing investigations