Worse than forecast April GDP data shows challenge facing Rachel Reeves to kickstart growth to fund spending review

Britain’s economy shrank at the start of the second quarter, official figures show, in a blow for the Chancellor just a day after her spending review.

The figures are for April which is also when a hike in employer National Insurance contributions kicked in.

Worse than forecast April GDP data shows challenge facing Rachel Reeves to kickstart growth to fund spending review

Rachel Reeves is ‘disappointed’ with lower GDP growth after businesses front-loaded exports to the US before President Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ trade tariffs

GDP was down 0.3 per cent in April, worse than analysts had expected, and raising more questions about the realism of the Chancellor's splurge on services.

April’s GDP decline of 0.3% highlights Rachel Reeves’ challenge to kick-start growth

The cut to GDP figures come as a blow to Rachel Reeves in her mission to grow the UK economy

Chancellor giving interviews as UK economy shrinks by 0.3% as she faces questions over whether taxes might have to rise in the autumn

UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, biggest fall since October 2023, as trade with the US slumped

The U.K. economy shrank sharply in April as global trade tariffs and domestic tax rises kicked in, data showed Thursday.

The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product shrank by 0.3 per cent in April - the worst monthly performance for a year and a half.