The British economy almost returned to growth in November after two months of contraction, according to the latest official figures. Gross domestic product (GDP), the standard measure of the value of an economy and everything it produces, increased by 0.1%, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Growth of 0.2% was forecast. Money … Read more
Nadhim Zahawi, the former chancellor, is joining an Israeli medical diagnostics group that is trying to transform the way infectious diseases are detected and managed. Sky News understands that Mr. Zahawiwho has amassed a portfolio of roles since leaving frontline politics, will be named chairman of the Ador Diagnostics advisory board on Thursday. His appointment … Read more
Thousands of people have signed a petition asking the world’s largest advertising agency, WPP, to repeal a new rule requiring employees to come into the office four days a week. Mark Read, the chief executive of the group which employs 111,000 people worldwide, wrote in a January 7 memo: “From the beginning of April this … Read more
Inflation unexpectedly fell to 2.5% after two months of rising, according to official figures. This means prices are still rising, but at a slower rate than before, according to December data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Economists expected this figure to remain at 2.6%, the level recorded in November. Inflation is still above … Read more
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been accused of refusing to “face up to her own failures” by “flying to Beijing” during a week of market turmoil. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride accused the chancellor of dodging tough questions as “the government lost control of the economy” while Ms Reeves visited China last week with a delegation including … Read more
TikTok has dismissed a report that it could sell its threatened US operations to Elon Musk as “pure fiction”. The Chinese owners of the short video platform, ByteDance, face the prospect of a TikTok be closed permanently in America on Sunday. It was then that a US government banfor reasons of national security, should come … Read more
Britain’s leading small business group has appealed to economic watchdogs to heed Sir Keir Starmer’s executive order to remove regulatory barriers to growth with a new list of reform demands. Sky News has obtained a letter from the FSB to more than half a dozen regulators, including Ofgem and the Financial Conduct Authority, in which … Read more
The Government will “put AI into the veins” of the UK, with plans revealed today by Sir Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister is expected to promise investment, jobs and economic growth as the sector booms. It comes as his government battles allegations that it mismanaged the economy and hindered growth with last fall’s budget. The … Read more
Pizza Hut’s largest franchise restaurant in the UK is set to agree a rescue deal that would save the vast majority of its UK outlets and jobs. Sky News has learned that Directional Capital, an investment company which already controls much of Pizza Hut’s restaurant operations in Denmark and Sweden, is in advanced talks to … Read more
Sir Keir Starmer has said the Treasury will be “ruthless” in cutting public spending as market turmoil continues. Responding to a question about the economic situation from Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigbyhe said: “The number one mission of this government is economic growth. “And that was provided for in the budget, but we are … Read more