The increase in home work has created a generation who are “not doing proper work,” according to the former boss of Asda and Marks & Spencer. Speaking to BBC Panorama, Lord Rose said more working from home was a part of the UK economy’s “general decline” and that productivity was suffering as a result. “We [...]

Thousands of civil servants are to strike “indefinitely” from this month following an order to return to the office for three days a week.

The official figures are released as the chancellor's stewardship of the public finances remains under intense scrutiny at a time when she is gunning for growth.

The West Midlands claimant count covering those claiming unemployment benefits stood at 207,945 last month, with the figure for Shropshire at 4,955, or 2.6 per cent of the working population. The figure for Telford and Wrekin was 4,695 while, for Powys, the number stood at 2,065.

It came after fresh data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the UK economy grew by a weaker-than-expected 0.1% in November.

Services inflation fell from 5 per cent to 4.4 per cent. This is a figure watched closely by the Bank when deciding whether to cut interest rates or not. The largest downward contribution to inflation rates came from restaurants and hotels which fell to 3.4 per cent, down from 4 per cent in November.

The latest data has raised expectations that the Bank of England could cut UK interest rates again next month.

THE UK economy grew just 0.1% in November, less than expected by economists. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose marginally in

The UK and West Midlands have seen a rise in unemployment, official figures have revealed. The jobless rate rose unexpectedly and the number of workers on payrolls has fallen by the most since the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

The volume of retail sales, which measures the quantity bought, fell by 0.3% in December, the Office for National Statistics said.

Government borrowing hit £17.8 billion in December, surpassing forecasts by £3.2 billion intensifying the debate over the chancellor’s fiscal rules.

The FTSE 100 ( ^FTSE) and European stocks were higher on Wednesday as UK government borrowing rose more than expected in December to hit its highest level for the month for four years. This continues to pile more pressure on the UK's finances.