Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favorite tales in this weekly publication.
GDP didn’t register any progress in the three months to September, the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics mentioned on Monday, down from its first estimate of a 0.1 per cent enlargement.
The economy was held again because the dominant companies sector stagnated in the quarter. Manufacturing output fell 0.4 per cent, offsetting a 0.7 per cent improve in the development sector.
The figures are a setback to the federal government, which has put boosting the economy’s progress on the coronary heart of its agenda. Surveys have pointed to the chilling impact of chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tax-raising Price range in October, which has hit enterprise confidence and curtailed hiring intentions.
Reeves on Monday admitted that the federal government confronted a “large” problem however insisted that the Price range had laid the foundations for long-term progress.
If progress undershoots forecasts made in the Price range, it raises the prospect that Reeves may have to ship spending cuts or greater taxes subsequent yr to guarantee she continues to meet her borrowing guidelines.
“The problem we face to repair our economy and correctly fund our public funds after 15 years of neglect is large,” Reeves mentioned. “However that is solely fuelling our hearth to ship for working individuals.”
Final week Andrew Griffith, shadow enterprise secretary, claimed the UK was heading for a “January of discontent” and the potential for a recession. He mentioned if there was a recession it might be “made in Downing Avenue”.