UK exports and business investment help second-quarter GDP growth

Exports and business investment helped the UK economy expand in the second quarter, according to official figures that confirmed a pickup in growth after a sluggish start to the year.

UK interest rate rises - waiting for lift-off

With prominent members of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) – not least the governor – lining up in recent weeks to talk up the prospect of rate rises at some point in the coming months, this week’s meeting has already sparked another burst of speculation about when the first hike in eight years will happen.

Bank of England: Gertjan Vlieghe named as new MPC member

Chancellor George Osborne has announced that Gertjan Vlieghe, a senior economist at hedge fund Brevan Howard, will replace David Miles on the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee.

Is the government still behind the banking ringfence?

The general election was only10 weeks ago and already the big banks have scored two major lobbying triumphs. In round one, chancellor George Osborne revamped the bank levy in a way that will save HSBC about £700m a year.

UK construction falls in April but new building rises

Output in the construction industry fell 0.8% in April compared to the previous month, official figures show.

Global Inflation Mystery Risks Making Central Bankers Bystanders

Janet Yellen’s Federal Reserve is “reasonably confident” it can drive up consumer prices. Mario Draghi says his European Central Bank’s stimulus has already “proven so far to be potent.”

UK interest rates remain at record low of 0.5%

The Bank of England has held UK interest rates at a record low of 0.5% for another month. It has also decided not to extend its quantitative easing programme, designed to stimulate lending in the economy, beyond the £375bn already spent.

George Osborne questions impact of regulations from Bank of England

George Osborne is calling on the Bank of England to consider the impact on lending to business and households as it toughens the regime to bolster the financial strength of the banking sector.

Biggest fall in UK shopping since 2008

The weakest underlying performance by high street and online stores since the depth of the 2008-09 recession provided fresh evidence on Tuesday of a slowdown in the economy.

Bank of England deputy calls for US co-operation over bank fines

The deputy governor of the Bank of England has called for better co-operation with US regulators over the scale of fines being levied on banks to ensure they do not weaken their financial position.

Osborne and Carney to miss G20 summit for Scottish referendum result

The chancellor, George Osborne, and the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, are to miss next weekend's meeting of G20 central bank governors and finance ministers to ensure they are in the UK for the outcome of the Scottish referendum.

Bank of England holds rates despite robust recovery

(Reuters) - The Bank of England kept interest rates on hold on Thursday as Britain's economy continued to thrive, although risks to the recovery both at home and abroad remain.

U.K. Said to Rule Out Pre-Election Lloyds Retail Offering

The British government is unlikely to sell shares in Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY) to individual investors ahead of general elections in May 2015, two people familiar with the matter said.

George Osborne is right not to be smug over GDP numbers

George Osborne's response to news that Britain has finally recovered all the ground lost in the recession of 2008 and 2009 was notably for its lack of crowing.

Britain's economy set, finally, to recover ground lost to crisis

(Reuters) - Britain's economy is set to pass a landmark on Friday when official data will probably show that it is bigger than it was before the financial crisis struck six years ago.

Bank of England made rescue plan for banks at height of eurozone crisis

At the height of the eurozone crisis the Bank of England warned the Treasury that it needed a comprehensive contingency plan to prop up Britain's banks, documents published by the central bank have revealed.

Bank of England behaving like an unreliable boyfriend, say MPs

The Bank of England has been accused by MPs of behaving like an unreliable boyfriend, giving mixed messages on when the first rise in interest rates is likely.

City of London boosted by China currency trading move

London will be the base for the first clearing bank outside Asia for the Chinese currency, supporting Britain's push to be the leading western centre for offshore renminbi trading.

UK inflation rate falls to 1.5% in May

Annual inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, was 1.5% in May compared with 1.8% in April, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Construction output boost for economy

Economic growth for the first three months of the year could be be revised up after official figures showed the construction industry grew by more than expected.