UK public sector borrowing fell sharply in the last financial year and came in marginally under the official forecast, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.
Policymakers have based decisions in response to UK household wealth on flawed pension data, with changes to methodologies and inconsistencies making it difficult to get a clear picture of...
The slowdown in the jobs market is showing signs of steadying, with declines in payroll numbers and vacancies both levelling off, according to the latest labour market data.
Borrowing hit a five-year high in August, casting further gloom over the economic outlook and piling pressure on the chancellor to raise taxes at the Budget.
The Office for National Statistics was underfunded for what it was expected to achieve, with competing demands from different parts of government, according to its former head.
Public sector productivity rose by the fastest rate in two years, according to the latest ONS figures, but the rate still remains below pre-Covid levels.
The latest borrowing figures show the “clear risk” run by the government in adhering to its fiscal rules despite the uncertainty of official forecasts, analysts have warned.
Lower-than-expected output at the end of 2023 meant the UK economy experienced a technical recession in the second half of last year, the Office for National Statistics has said.
The government must do more to support the most vulnerable families through the cost-of-living crisis as food prices continue to rise, experts have said.
