British consumer morale improved slightly in August but remained subdued overall as households became gloomier about their finances, a survey showed yesterday.

Britain’s messy election outcome and a weakening of the housing market have caused a sharp of loss of confidence among UK consumers, leaving the country dependent on exports to avoid a recession, according to a survey.

Ireland is still expected to turn a record trade surplus this year, despite latest preliminary data from the CSO showing export performance beginning to wane even before last month’s Brexit vote.

UK Chancellor George Osborne’s plans to slash corporation tax, in the battle for overseas investment, would wipe out the effects of Brexit and boost FDI by more than 10%, a think-tank claims.

Britain’s public finances deteriorated unexpectedly last month, recording their worst August in three years, and a decline in industrial orders signalled that a global slowdown is hitting the country’s economy.

The Bank of England is still expected to raise its benchmark interest rate from a record low of 0.5% early next year, but economists in the latest Reuters poll are now less certain about the timing.

The UK is on course to become Europe’s largest economy within two decades, overtaking France and Germany, according to a new report.

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne insisted today the Government was doing everything possible to “weather the storm” as economic forecasters warned the UK is likely to be already in recession.

Bank of England policymakers will consider more drastic action to kick-start the UK economy today amid signs the fragile recovery is faltering.

Britain’s biggest banks are involved in behind-the-scenes talks over a joint plan to cut bonus payouts and boost lending to small businesses, it was reported today.

The UK’s best growth in nearly a decade was overshadowed tonight by the growing threat of a double-dip recession in the US.

EUROPE was yesterday battling to cope with the Arctic freeze amid warnings over the cost of the lengthy cold snap which has seen thousands of flights and train journeys cancelled and caused dozens of deaths.

Putting VAT back up in January could stall a recovery from recession, an economic forecaster warned today.

Another £13bn (€15bn) in British Government borrowing last month sent total debt soaring to a record 56.6% of UK output, official figures revealed today.

House prices in the UK fell by 0.1% during October as higher interest rates and falling confidence continued to impact on the market, figures showed today.

The recent stock market turmoil could result in the loss of around 6,500 City jobs in London next year, a study revealed today.

Figures showing stronger wage growth in the UK for the past three months heaped more pressure on the Bank of England today ahead of its next meeting.

The amount of money pocketed by top company chief executives has surged by 30% in the last year, a new survey revealed today.

Top bankers and traders are gearing up for bonus pay-outs of up to 30% following a successful year for the financial markets, a report showed today.

British manufacturers were given a boost today as an industry survey showed export orders rose to a 10-year high this month.

The case for a further cut in interest rates was reinforced today after inflation stayed below target for a second month running in January.

Internet auction sites such as eBay have boosted the average household’s wealth by around £3,000 (€4,400), an economics consultancy claimed today.

There will be 2,000 new financial industry jobs in 2005 compared with 4,000 this year, as slower economic growth damps markets and recruiting, a study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research said.

One in every 20 households in London is worth £1m (€1.5m) or more, according to research out today.

A British research group is to publish a report today regarding house price increases, which indicates British home owners could be so financially stretched as to trigger a house price crash.

London's financial centre is set to employ a record number of people by 2006, according to a report from the Center for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).

A sharp increase in City job cuts has pushed London to the brink of recession, a report said today.

The eurozone is perilously close to entering recession this year, and Germany may even be in a technical recession already, a report said today.

Disruption caused by the foot-and-mouth outbreak will cost the UK economy an estimated £9bn this year, it was been claimed.