Tom Rees

The weakness in the UK labor market is likely to have been overstated, economists and policymakers warned, after new figures shifted the narrative in Westminster and financial markets ahead of the budget.

The Bank of England held interest rates at 4% in a tight vote that laid the groundwork for a December cut.

The Bank of England’s latest decision gives investors their most detailed look ever into the range of views across the nine members of its rate-setting panel.

Bank of England Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden said new stablecoin rules will be up and running “just as quickly as the US,” rebuffing industry concerns that Britain is falling behind on setting up a regime.

Britain’s embattled statistics agency will stop producing swathes of its data after a crisis affecting crucial economic figures was worsened by it “doing too much, too quickly and on too many fronts.”

The Bank of England is expected to skip an interest-rate cut on Thursday, further slowing the once-a-quarter pace to policy easing that it’s maintained for more than a year.

UK food bills have dropped at their sharpest rate in almost five years, dragged down partly by the global easing in sugar prices.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves’ attempt to boost growth by luring in private investment through the National Wealth Fund will be held back by its limited size, an influential group of British lawmakers said.

The Bank of England is planning to move its banking regulation arm out of its Moorgate office, slimming down its presence in the City of London at a time of homeworking, tight finances and the rising cost of renting space.

UK retail sales unexpectedly grew for a fourth straight month, providing a glimmer of hope after recent data pointed to a cooling economy and jobs market.