UK economy shrank 0.3% in March, ONS figures show

Published

2 years ago

May 12, 2023

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The UK economy grew slightly in the first three months of the year, according to official figures – but contracted in March.

Growth of 0.1% was recorded by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the three months up to March, the lowest amount possible to still be classed as growth as IT and construction sector activity offset the impact of strikes.

However, the economy shrank 0.3% in March as retail and car sales fell sharply, and public sector strikes were more disruptive than February as NHS staff and teachers took to picket lines.

Contraction also came thanks to a 0.5% fall in services production. Distribution and retail also had a poor month as cost of living pressures hit consumers.

Economic research firm Pantheon Macro has pointed out the UK is falling below the G7 group of the world’s largest economies.

“The UK remains the only G7 country in which the main quarterly measure of GDP has not recovered to its pre-COVID peak yet; it still was 0.5% below its Q4 2019 level in Q1,” the Pantheon Macro chief economist said.

“This chiefly reflects weakness in households’ real spending, which was 2.3% below its Q4 2019 level. But at least the magnitude of the underperformance is not increasing relative to other countries in Europe, which have faced a similarly enormous energy price shock,” Samuel Tombs said.

ONS publishes GDP data every month, which stands for gross domestic product and measures the sum total of everything produced in the economy.

Higher economic growth brings increased tax revenues and likely higher incomes and standards of living.

As part of his focus on economic growth, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says growing the economy will create better-paid jobs and opportunities across the country.

A three-month period, or quarter, of economic growth means the UK is on the path to avoid recession. But the growth recorded is small.

An economy is technically in a recession after two quarters of negative economic growth, though the Bank of England now expects the UK will avoid recession this year.

Today’s announcement followed a flatlining economy in February and growth of 0.5% in January.

In response to the figures, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “It’s good news that the economy is growing but to reach the government’s growth priority we need to stay focused on competitive taxes, labour supply and productivity.

“The Bank of England governor confirmed yesterday that the budget has made an important start but we will keep going until the job is done and we have the high wage, high growth economy we need.”

Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s shadow chancellor of the Exchequer, responding to the latest GDP forecast today, said: “Labour wants to match the ambition of the British people – while the Tories would rather continue down a path of managed decline of low growth and high taxes.

“Despite our country’s huge potential and promise, today is another day in the dismal low growth record book of this Conservative government.

“The facts remain that families are feeling worse off and we’re lagging behind on the global stage.

“Labour’s mission to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 will make families across every part of our country better off.”

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Inflation hits higher than expected 2.3% in October as energy bills rise

Published

4 hours ago

November 20, 2024

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Inflation hits higher than expected 2.3% in October as energy bills rise

Inflation has risen by more than expected due to an increase in energy bills, official figures showed.

It’s the first rise in the rate of price increases, as measured by the consumer prices index (CPI), for three months.

The figure stood at 2.3% in October, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), above the 2.2% forecast by economists.

This is also a sizeable increase on the 1.7% recorded a month earlier.

Money blog: Follow live reaction to inflation news

Household gas and electricity bills rose last month as the energy price cap brought the cost of a typical annual bill up to an extra £12 a month.

Inflation wasn’t higher because there were falls in live music and theatre ticket prices and continued drops in raw materials due to cheaper oil.

What about interest rates?

Today’s data may affect the likelihood of the Bank of England cutting interest rates next month.

Before the inflation figure was announced, there was a 78.3% chance of no change – and a 21.7% chance that the cost of borrowing would fall by 0.25 percentage points.

After the announcement that changed to 84% chance of no cut.

Also on the up was another important measure of inflation watched by the Bank – core inflation, which measures price rises but excludes food and energy costs as they’re liable to sharply fall or rise.

Core rose to 3.3%, more than the forecast 3.1% expected by economists polled by Reuters.

Services inflation also came in above forecast and higher than a month ago at 5%.

Political reaction

Responding to the figures the chief secretary to the treasury, Darren Jones, said:

“We know that families across Britain are still struggling with the cost of living. That is why the budget last month focused on fixing the foundation of our economy so we can deliver change.”

“But we know there is more to do. That is why the government is focused on economic growth and investment so we can make every part of the country better off.”

The shadow chancellor Mel Stride said:

“It’s higher inflation and lower growth under Labour.”

“What is worrying about today’s announcement is that inflation is running ahead of expectations and official forecasts state these figures are not expected to improve. Labour’s budget will push up inflation and mortgage rates.”

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‘We need help’: Workers say shoplifting is ‘out of control’ after surge in brazen thefts

Published

4 hours ago

November 20, 2024

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'We need help': Workers say shoplifting is 'out of control' as brazen thefts explode

A woman casually walks into a convenience store and starts filling a bread crate with goods from one of the aisles.

A shop assistant tries to stop her, but she shrugs him off, undeterred. With the crate now full of items, she leaves without paying.

It is a scenario that is played out day in and day out across Britain, as retailers warn the surge in shoplifting is now “out of control”.

I’m sitting in the security office of a busy city centre shop and I’m watching as a schoolboy walks in and helps himself to a sandwich, stuffing it into his jacket.

Watching with me is shop worker Anton Mavroianu who positions himself by the main entrance waiting for the youngster to leave.

When the boy does leave, Anton demands the item back. Instead of being frozen with fear that he’s been caught, the boy laughs and walks off.

“All we can do is try to stop them,” Anton tells me. “But this is just another day for us.”

A few weeks earlier, when Anton tried to stop a shoplifter who had stolen from the store, the man pulled out a knife and tried to attack him.

This terrifying incident is an example of the very real threat posed to shop workers as they try to stem the tide of brazen thefts.

Shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales have risen to the highest level in 20 years.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) also reports that theft-related losses cost the retail sector millions each year, adding strain to an industry already grappling with post-pandemic recovery and economic uncertainty.

For small businesses, which lack the resources of larger chains, persistent theft can threaten their very survival.

Ricky Dougall owns a chain of convenience stores and says shoplifting cost his business around £100,000 last year.

“Shoplifting is a huge problem and it is what stops us from growing the business.

“People come in and help themselves like they own the place and when you call the police, most of the time, they don’t turn up.”

Mr Dougall says part of the problem is how this type of crime is classified.

Sentencing guidelines for thefts of under £200, so-called “low level shoplifting”, were relaxed in 2016. That is being blamed for the surge in cases.

An exclusive Sky News and Association of Convenience Stores survey shows that 80% of shopkeepers reported a retail crime within a week in October.

The poll also found 94% of shopkeepers say that in their experience, shoplifting has got worse over the last year, with 83% not confident that the police will take action against the perpetrators of retail crime on their premises.

Paul Cheema from the Association of Convenience Stores says retailers are looking to government to support them.

“I would say officials do not give a s*** about us retailers,” he tells me. “The losses are too big and I don’t think we can sustain that anymore.

“I would urge Keir Starmer to come and meet us and see up close the challenges that we are facing.”

Retailers have responded by investing heavily in security measures, from advanced surveillance systems to hiring more security staff.

But these investments come at a cost, often passed down to consumers through higher prices.

I get chatting to Matt Roberts, head of retail in the store I am in. He worries about shoplifting, but he worries about the staff more.

He says: “I would imagine they dread coming to work because they’re always on tenterhooks wondering whether something is going to happen today, whether they are going to have to try and confront someone.

“It’s a horrible feeling. It’s out of control and we need help.”

The government has acknowledged the urgency of the issue. Home secretary-led discussions with retail associations and law enforcement are under way to craft a comprehensive strategy.

In the King’s Speech, the government outlined details of a Crime and Policing Bill, which promised to “introduce stronger measures to tackle low level shoplifting”, as well as introducing a separate offence for assaulting a shop worker.

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Spending calculator: Which prices are rising and falling fastest?

Published

5 hours ago

November 20, 2024

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Spending calculator: Which prices are rising and falling fastest?

Inflation jumped to 2.3% in October – a six-month high.

A rise in household energy bills contributed to the higher-than-expected reading.

Economists had forecast a figure to 2.2% after a three-year low of 1.7% in September.

But how does all of this affect the cost of groceries, clothing and leisure activities? Use our calculator to find out.

Which prices are increasing fastest?

Unlike previous months, the item with the largest price increase was a non-food product: hair gel. Its price rose from £3.18 to £4.07, a jump of nearly 30% in just 12 months.

Olive oil also rose by close to 30%, with prices for 500ml to one litre rising from £7.16 to £9.16.

Experts have put that price rise down primarily to poor olive yields due to last year’s heatwaves in southern Europe.

However, they expect a significantly better harvest in the 2024-25 season, thanks to significant rainfall in Spain. The harvest could be double the size of last year’s, which may lead to lower prices in the coming months.

Food and drink products are responsible for eight of the 10 biggest increases since last year.

Top five price rises:

• Hair gel (150 to 200ml): up 28%, £3.18 to £4.07
• Olive oil (500ml to one litre): up 28%, £7.16 to £9.16
• Carrots (per kg): up 28%, 65p to 83p
• Iceberg lettuce (each): up 23%, 79p to 97p
• White potatoes (per kg): up 19%, 75p to 89p

Overall, 47 of the 156 types of food and drink tracked by the ONS have actually become cheaper since last year.

There’s good news for fans of a prawn cocktail: frozen prawns and mayonnaise are among the top 10 foods with the largest price decreases.

Overall, 147 out of the 444 products in our database are cheaper than they were 12 months ago.

Top food price decreases:

• Pulses (390g to 420g): down 11%, 76p to 68p
• Frozen prawns (per kg): down 9%, £19.04 to £17.42
• Mayonnaise (390g to 500g/420ml to 540ml): down 7%, £2.20 to £2.04
• Pre-prepared mashed potatoes (400g to 650g): down 7%, £1.12 to £1.04
• Canned tomatoes (390g to 400g): down 7%, 71p to 66p

Of non-supermarket items, kerosene has been the biggest price faller – by a quarter.

What is the effect of long-term inflation?

The price changes described above compare the cost of items to where they were a year ago.

However, inflation has now been at high levels for an extended period of time.

The war in Ukraine, COVID, Brexit, and other supply chain pressures have all contributed to spiralling costs in recent years.

Inflation reached a 40-year high of 11.1% in October 2022.

While the headline inflation figure has come down markedly, any amount of inflation means that prices are still rising, and building on already inflated costs.

We’ve compared the costs of shopping items with what they were three years ago to see what the cumulative impact of inflation has been.

The biggest price rise for groceries over that time has been for olive oil (500ml to one litre), which has increased nearly two-and-a-half times (146%), from £3.72 to £9.16 in the past three years.

Iceberg lettuce is up by four-fifths, with one costing 97p now compared with 54p in October 2021.

Use our calculator to see how much prices in your shopping basket have risen in total since three years ago.

Who is worst affected?

Richard Lim, chief executive of Retail Economics, says: “It’s the least affluent households that are going to see much higher rates of inflation as they spend more of their income on food and energy.”

We’ll continue to update our spending calculator over the coming months so you can see how you’ll be affected.

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Methodology

The ONS collects these prices by visiting thousands of shops across the country and noting down the prices of specific items. There are upwards of 100,000 prices published every month, from more than 600 products.

The items that form the “official shopping basket” change each year to reflect how the purchasing habits of the population have changed. For example in March 2021, after a year of the pandemic, hand gel, loungewear bottoms and dumbbells were added, while canteen-bought sandwiches were among the items removed.

Where there aren’t the exact equivalent items available at a survey shop, ONS officials pick the best alternative and note that they’ve done this so it’s weighted correctly when the averages are worked out.

Shops are weighted as well, so the price in a major chain supermarket will have a greater impact on the average than an independent corner shop.

We will be updating these figures each month while the cost of living crisis continues.

During the pandemic, more of the survey was carried out over the phone and work is ongoing to digitise the system to be able to take in more price points by getting data from supermarket receipts, rather than making personal visits.

Data journalists: Daniel Dunford, Amy Borrett, Ben van der Merwe, Joely Santa Cruz and Saywah Mahmood
Interactive: Ganesh Rao
Design: Phoebe Rowe, Brian Gillingham

The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open-source information. Through multimedia storytelling, we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.