Jobless rate unexpectedly rises to 5% and employment falls by 100,000, biggest drop in six years; economists say June interest rate hike looks less likely

Survey shows businesses ‘struggling to absorb latest economic shock’, while data says April vacancies down 7.7%

Over half of UK firms said they have halted investment and hiring plans due to the economic fallout of the Iran war.

The IMF now anticipates that GDP will expand by 1 per cent in 2026