The latest in United Kingdom

Surprise 0.6% growth in third quarter

2011-12-22T11:30:32Z

Britain's economy showed unexpectedly strong growth of 0.6 percent in the third quarter, official data revealed on Thursday, but the country still faces possible recession in the new year.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revised higher its estimate for gross domestic product (GDP) growth between July and Se...

Britain surprises with stronger growth

2011-12-22T10:30:24Z

Britain's economy showed unexpectedly strong growth of 0.6 percent in the third quarter, official data revealed on Thursday but the country still faces possible recession in the new year.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revised higher its estimate for gross domestic product (GDP) growth between July and Sep...

UK Conservatives take poll lead after EU veto

2011-12-14T05:00:16Z

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Conservatives have overtaken the Labour opposition in an opinion poll for the first time this year, enjoying a bounce from Prime Minister David Cameron's veto of a new Hong Kong has overtaken the United States and Britain to rank top in a World Economic Forum survey on countries' financial health published on Tuesday.

Strong scores in non-banking financial services such as initial public offering (IPO) activity...

Government slashes economic growth outlook

2011-11-29T18:30:54Z

The government slashed its growth outlook on Tuesday, blaming the impact of the eurozone debt crisis, and unveiled a £30-billion infrastructure scheme to help kickstart the economy.

Finance minister George Osborne, delivering his autumn statement to parliament, insisted however that there would be no let-up in the coalition's plans to axe the deficit and s...

Britain slashes economic growth outlook

2011-11-29T18:30:27Z

The British government slashed its growth outlook on Tuesday, blaming the impact of the eurozone debt crisis, and unveiled a £30-billion infrastructure scheme to help kickstart the economy.

Finance minister George Osborne, delivering his autumn statement to parliament, insisted however that there would be no let-up in the coalition's plans to axe the defic...

UK growth slows to crawl, austerity to persist

2011-11-29T06:30:17Z

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's coalition government unveiled sharply lower economic growth forecasts on Tuesday and said it would take much longer than hoped to wipe out its deficit, meaning tough austerity measures would extend beyond the next election due in 2015.

Finance Minister Reuters) - The British government unveiled sharply lower economic growth forecasts on Tuesday and said it would take longer than hoped to wipe out its deficit, meaning that tough austerity measures would extend beyond 2015.

Finance Minister George Osborne warned that the British economy risked getting dragged in...

Britain faces 'double-dip recession'

2011-11-28T10:31:47Z

Britain's economy faces a double-dip recession, according to new forecasts from the OECD, which predicts the economy will start to shrink again in coming months.

In the latest edition of its twice-yearly forecasts, the think-tank predicts Britain's GDP (gross domestic product) will shr...

Economic crisis takes toll on bankers

2011-11-19T20:30:26Z

The pressure on London bankers to get to grips with the global financial crisis has led to stress, depression and insomnia among City workers, affecting even the most experienced bosses.

The phenomenon was brought to light when the chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group, Antonio Horta-Osario, announced that he was...

Economic crisis takes toll on Britain's bankers

2011-11-19T20:30:12Z

The pressure on London bankers to get to grips with the global financial crisis has led to stress, depression and insomnia among City workers, affecting even the most experienced bosses.

The phenomenon was brought to light when the chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group, Antonio Horta-Osario, announced that he was...

UK businesses see euro crisis as biggest challenge: poll

2011-11-19T16:30:28Z

More than two-thirds of business leaders in Britain believe the eurozone debt crisis will be the biggest challenge facing the country's economy next year, an opinion poll showed Sunday.

Seventy percent of business chiefs believe the euro crisis is "the biggest single factor likely to impact on the UK economy in 2012," showed the poll for the Reuters) - Global factory activity slowed in October on weak demand for exports, with a sharp contraction in Britain's manufacturing sector suggesting that Europe was on the brink of a new recession.

While manufacturing surveys on Tuesday from

Britain can get through tough times: Cameron

2011-10-05T15:30:50Z

Prime Minister David Cameron sought Wednesday to lift Britons from the economic doldrums, urging them to show a "can-do" attitude and help make the country great again.

In an upbeat and patriotic speech to his Conservative Party conference, Cameron said he understood that people were struggling with rising inflation and energy bills, s...

UK economy grinds to virtual halt

2011-10-05T10:30:54Z

Britain's economy slowed to a trickle in the second quarter and the country's last recession was much deeper than thought, official data showed on Wednesday, piling pressure on the government.

British gross domestic product (GDP) -- the value of all services and goods produced in the economy -- grew by just 0.1 percent in the three months to June from the first quarter, the

British economy almost grinds to a halt

2011-10-05T08:30:21Z

Britain's economy almost ground to a halt in the second quarter slowed by weak consumer spending and industrial output, revised data showed on Wednesday.

Gross domestic product (GDP) -- the combined value of all services and goods produced in the economy -- grew by just 0.1 percent in the three months to June, the Office for N...

Plunging PMIs fuel recession fears

2011-10-05T04:00:15Z

LONDON (Reuters) - Private sector business activity shrank in the euro zone for the first time in two years last month as new orders dried up, stoking fears that the economy could be heading back into recession, surveys showed on Wednesday.

A downturn that began in smaller members of the 17-nation bloc has hit the core and survey...

35,000 protest at Tory conference

2011-10-02T20:30:36Z

Unions organised a rally of 35,000 protesters against government budget cuts Sunday in Manchester where Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives opened their annual conference.

The Trades Union Congress billed the demonstration as a rally for "the alternative -- jobs, growth, justice"...

Funds rebuild stocks in September

2011-09-29T07:00:24Z

LONDON (Reuters) - Investors are entering the fourth quarter with a slightly raised exposure to shares and holding high reserves of cash that could quickly be used to fuel a stock rally, Reuters polls showed on Thursday.

Surveys of 59 leading investment houses in the United States, mainland Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Ottawa on Thursday for economic and security talks with his Canadian counterpart, Stephen Harper, and to address a joint session of parliament.

The two leaders are also to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Canada's National War Mem...

Worst of British slump 'yet to come'

2011-09-12T04:30:20Z

The pain of Britain's austerity measures will be felt for years to come owing to some of the worst falls in living standards since World War II, a leading economic research body warned on Monday.

With the government trying to rein in Britain's record deficit, household incomes will suffer as public spending reductions and tax rises begin to bite, the Britain who behave irresponsibly should be thrown out of the profession, the leader of the opposition Labour party said Sunday ahead of the publication of plans for a major shake-up of the sector.

Ed Miliband told The Sunday Times newspaper the public believed that bankers had got ...

Cable attacks banks' resistance to reform

2011-08-30T18:30:56Z

Business Secretary Vince Cable on Wednesday accused bankers of exploiting the current euro crisis to block reforms to the troubled sector.

The Liberal Democrat minister called the "special pleading" of bank lobbyists "disingenuous in the extreme" during an interview with The Times newspaper.

Cable's attack comes two weeks before the publication of a report from a commission led by John Vickers which is expected to call for the separation of banks' retail and inve...

Rising British unemployment sparks new fears over economy

2011-08-17T14:30:45Z

Britain's jobless total has risen unexpectedly for the first time since January, data showed Wednesday, sparking fresh doubts over the economy which is already buckling under deep public spending cuts.

The number of unemployed jumped 38,000 to 2.49 million in the three months to June, the Office for National Statistics

Osborne defends austerity policies amid debt storm

2011-08-11T14:30:54Z

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne on Thursday defended his government's austerity policies, but admitted that recovery would be longer than hoped amid global financial market turmoil over debt.

Osborne, addressing lawmakers after parliament was recalled early to debate the recent rioting, said that the deficit-slashing measures had made Britain

U.S. outlook casts shadow over world economy

2011-08-09T09:00:12Z

BANGALORE (Reuters) - The chances of another U.S. recession are rising and Europe's recovery is also at risk, according to the latest Reuters poll, taken during the worst stock market selloff since the nadir of the financial crisis.

UK banks must 'resume lending' to avoid fresh recession

2011-08-07T10:30:13Z

Britain risks falling back into recession unless its banks increase the amount they are lending to businesses and individuals, Business Secretary Vince Cable said in an interview with The Sunday Times.

"The top priority now, to boost growth and jobs and avoid a double dip (recession), is making the banks lend again," he told the newspaper, as the Bank of Engla...

Lloyds bank suffers vast loss on insurance claims provision

2011-08-04T15:30:27Z

Britain's bailed-out Lloyds bank said Thursday it plunged into vast losses in the first half, after setting aside billions of pounds to compensate customers over mis-sold payment protection insurance.

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG), which is 40.2-percent owned by the state after a huge bailout, reported in a results statement a net los...

European suicide rates pushed higher by financial crisis

2011-07-07T16:30:32Z

LONDON (Reuters) - Suicides rates rose sharply in Europe in 2007 to 2009 as the financial crisis drove unemployment up and squeezed incomes, with the worst hit countries like Greece and Ireland seeing the most dramatic increase...

New Lloyds bank boss set to axe more jobs

2011-06-29T20:30:33Z

The new boss of Britain's state-rescued Lloyds Banking Group is due Thursday to axe thousands more jobs in a bid to transform its fortunes and save £1.0 billion ($1.6 billion, 1.1 billion euros) a year.

Chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio, who was parachuted into the job in March after being poached from Santander UK, is due ...

Britons leaving prime London, foreign rich move in

2011-06-10T06:30:29Z

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's rich are selling up and moving out of the smartest neighborhoods of their own capital city, replaced by a wave of super-rich migrants who have more money to spend on high end property, new research found.

Upmarket property consultant Savills said increasing numbers of British homeowners were...

Most wages have stagnated over past 30 years: TUC

2011-06-06T09:30:28Z

Many people in low and middle income jobs in Britain have seen little improvement in their earnings over the last three decades, a report by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) said on Monday.

The study, entitled the "The Livelihood Crisis", claims the incomes of lower-paid workers have risen by just 27 percent in real terms over the past 30 years.

Store-brand food seen eating up market share

2011-03-24T09:00:19Z

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Grocery retailers' store-brand products are expected to double their share of the global packaged food market over the next 15 years to make up half the market, according to a report issued on Thursday.

The report by Sebastiaan Schreijen, associate director of processed food and retail at

HSBC profits more than double to $13.16 bln

2011-02-28T18:30:16Z

Asia-focused banking giant HSBC said Monday that its net profit more than doubled to $13.16 billion (9.56 billion euros) last year as bad debts plunged to the lowest level since 2006.

HSBC said in a results statement that pre-tax profits soared 170 percent to $19 billion in 2010, while loan impairments and other credit risk provisions dived 47 percent to $14.04 billion. Revenue...

Hard times do not justify health aid cuts: study

2011-02-25T12:30:28Z

LONDON (Reuters) - The World Bank and World Health Organization have voiced fears that donor nations will slash health aid budgets because of the economic downturn, but experts said on Friday such a move could harm recov...

Downing Street on defensive over cuts unease

2011-02-13T05:30:48Z

Most voters think the austerity spending cuts are unfairly hitting the poor, according to a poll out Sunday, as the government admitted it was struggling to get its message across.

The ComRes poll for The Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Mirror found that 63 percent thought the impact would be felt more by poorer households than the better off.

It came after Justice Secretary Britain's plan to reduce its record deficit will stay on track this year because deep spending cuts and tax rises will not cut growth enough to cause a double-dip recession, leading economists said Tuesday.

In a survey of economists for the Financial Times, most were of the view that the deficit-slashing measures were a big gamble, but one that was likely to pay off.

The view of the economists will be a ...

Pub tale highlights Britain's new community ethos

2010-12-19T21:30:16Z

Adoption of Welsh pub by locals shows shifting community values in Britain

Bundled up against the cold, Dave Willis and wife Sue shovel snow from the pathway to The Raven Inn. Wendy Holifield carries out the sandwich board and plants it by the pub's stone wall. Inside, Jim Pilkington stokes the fire and checks the beer taps are in order.

Britain may be in the g...

Forecast slashes estimate of public sector job losses

2010-11-29T14:30:56Z

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on Monday raised its 2010 growth forecast to 1.8 percent from 1.2 percent, citing a stronger-than-expected recovery, and slashed its estimate of job losses arising from spending cuts.

However, the OBR also revealed that gross domestic product (GDP) would grow more slowly than expected in 2011 and 2012, as the sweeping austerity meas...

UK recovery plan working: Osborne

2010-11-29T15:00:43Z

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Recession fuels Poundland growth

2010-11-29T15:00:21Z

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United Kingdom

2010-11-29T14:58:58Z

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Anxious time for insurers as kidnappings soar

2010-11-29T14:59:50Z

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Doughty Hanson acquires cinema chain Vue Entertainment

2010-11-29T14:30:06Z

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Bank warns of spike in inflation

2010-11-29T14:59:46Z

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The question of governmental competence

2010-11-29T14:58:06Z

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Cost of living will rise next year, warns Bank Governor King

2010-11-29T14:59:45Z

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Magazines begin metamorphosis

2010-11-29T14:57:54Z

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Printweekcom

2010-11-29T14:57:52Z

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Crisis What crisis

2010-11-29T14:57:09Z

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Landscape Design News THE WEEK ON THE WEB

2010-11-29T14:57:07Z

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Gaymers picks agency to amplify music ties

2010-11-29T14:56:57Z

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Pace of growth for online ads tails off

2010-11-29T14:56:57Z

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The X Factor enterprise arm boosts brand partnerships

2010-11-29T14:56:50Z

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Public sector must drive development

2010-11-29T14:56:44Z

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Crawley town centre

2010-11-29T14:56:44Z

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Critical times call for new housing model

2010-11-29T14:56:44Z

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Economic turbulence and the three Ts Trade Trust and Transparency

2010-11-29T14:56:35Z

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Britain's worst economic downturn in 60 years

2010-11-29T15:41:36Z

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Examining the UK 2010 emergency budget

2010-11-29T15:41:06Z

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British problems and solutions

2010-11-29T15:41:07Z

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Financial Sector fraud could exceed 1 billion

2010-11-29T14:56:24Z

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The dangers of the never never

2010-11-29T14:56:22Z

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Plug into ICM OnLine Services icmOS

2010-11-29T14:56:19Z

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The health implications of financial crisis A review of the evidence

2010-11-29T14:55:28Z

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Britain's space industry is booming

2010-11-29T14:54:37Z

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Rentokil rat-catchers help firm to profit

2010-11-05T06:53:51Z

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Why are banks so greedy

2010-11-29T15:37:16Z

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Why there is a credit crunch and how banks work

2010-11-29T15:37:19Z

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Long wave economic and stock market cycles

2010-11-29T15:36:18Z

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Welcome To Austerity Britain

2010-11-04T13:21:38Z

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Women at the helm of enterprise

2010-11-04T13:12:51Z

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Chancellor George Osborne sets date for next Budget

2010-11-04T13:12:49Z

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Lloyds bank poaches Santander UK head for new chief

2010-11-04T06:31:01Z

Spanish-owned Santander UK later named his replacement as Ana Patricia Botin, who is the daughter of Santander's executive chairman and will become the first female chief executive of a British retail bank.

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG), which is slowly recovering after a massive government bailout, said 46-year-old Po...

Business trend: The future is green

2010-11-04T15:10:38Z

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Logbook loans – a cheap secured loan

2010-11-29T15:03:19Z

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How recession affects online businesses

2010-11-04T15:13:26Z

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How the recession has impacted entrepreneur opportunities

2010-11-04T15:09:57Z

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Secured loans - providing sense of security to many

2010-11-29T15:03:19Z

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The economy of London, England

2010-11-04T14:47:08Z

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World financial crisis

2010-11-04T14:32:55Z

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How wealth concentration leads to economic depression

2010-11-04T14:32:55Z

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Sodom and God's F-word: Prophetic insights on surviving economic meltdown - Part Two

2010-11-03T10:20:51Z

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George Osborne's economic dynamism plans for the UK

2010-11-04T13:38:28Z

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How is industry changing in the UK

2010-11-04T13:38:42Z

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What is a rights issue and in what circumstances do they arise?

2010-11-29T15:05:25Z

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Opening of One New Change shopping centre heralds revival

2010-10-27T07:19:51Z

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Double boost for recovery plans

2010-10-26T12:03:33Z

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Slowing economy raises fears over Goverment's cuts

2010-10-26T10:08:09Z

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Spanish tourist arrivals post fifth monthly increase

2010-10-22T18:01:16Z

The country received 5.2 million foreign tourists last month, a 4.2 percent increase over the same time in 2009 with Britain and Germany accounting for nearly half of all visitors, the tourism ministry said in a statement.

But while the number of arrivals from Britain fell by 0.3 percent to 1.46 million, the number of visitors from Germany, whose econo...

Good news bad news

2010-11-03T03:16:06Z

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How to Survive a Recession - Some Household Tips

2010-11-03T03:40:52Z

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Bankruptcy is Undoubtedly not an Easy Debt Solution

2010-11-03T03:44:06Z

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Global Economic Trouble - What does it all mean?

2010-11-03T03:20:17Z

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Refinance with poor credit

2010-11-03T03:34:54Z

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Current electricity demand in the U.K

2010-11-03T03:19:44Z

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World stocks slide on China growth fears

2010-10-20T06:31:03Z

In Europe, Britain's government is to unveil the harshest cuts for decades in a sweeping review of public spending expected to trigger half a million job losses as it tackles a record deficit.

In France, attention was focused on continuing strike action and disruptions in protests against a pension...

Britain to unveil harsh spending cuts

2010-10-20T06:30:47Z

The comprehensive spending review is the biggest challenge for Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition since it took power in May and is a major gamble for the future of the world's sixth biggest economy.

The government aims to cut spending by 83 billion pounds (130 billion dollars, 95 billion euros) by 2014-15, with the review expected to detail big welfare cuts plus reductions of...

You Need Self-Command Now More Than Ever

2010-11-02T12:28:52Z

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Fulbright & Jaworski 2010 Litigation Trends Survey

2010-10-19T11:32:55Z

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Britain Tuition Tangle

2011-01-04T08:04:09Z

FILE - This is a Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010 file photo of Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as they react as their car is attacked by angry protesters in London. British police released a video Tuesday Jan. 4, 2011 of ...

Britain Soccer Premier League

2011-01-02T11:00:17Z

Chelsea's Florent Malouda, left, is fouled by Aston Villa's Stilian Petrov during their English Premier League soccer match at the England, Saturday Jan. 1, 2011, after about 40 prisoners began a riot and set alight to some of the buildings inside the open prison, according to the a Ministry of Justice official. (AP Photo / Chris Ison, PA) UNITED KINGD...

Britain Prison Riot

2011-01-01T11:01:05Z

Specialist prison officers stand outside a fire damaged building at the Ford Open Prison near Arundel, 60 miles (95 kms) south of London, after prisoners began a riot and set alight the low-security prison Saturday Jan. 1, 2011. Officials said about 40 inmates at the prison began the disturbance at around midnight New Year's Eve after some prisoners refused to take breath tests for alcohol. (AP Photo/Chris Ison/PA Wire)

Margaret Thatcher

2010-12-30T08:00:27Z

FILE- In a June 7, 1984 file photo, President Ronald Reagan has a word in the ear of Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, at a reception given by the British Government at London's