Britannia Radio

Pledge to fight UK debt

Treasury promises more action to cut government’s record deficit of £175 billion saying concerns over the issue are misplaced

• UK credit rating under threat as debt hits £8.5bn

• CBI chief attacks Brown's 'economic vandalism'

ECONOMICS

Geneva, here we come

The Swiss city is bursting at the seams, but it will make room for tax exile Britons

The State strikes back

Matthew Lynn sees governments increasingly dominating business

Bankrupt Britain figures rise to 1m

"Hidden debtors" signed up to a debt-management plan with their lenders, rather than forced into formal insolvency

Pledge to fight UK debt

Treasury promises more action to cut government’s record deficit of £175 billion saying concerns over the issue are misplaced

Stock market 'bounce' could go into reverse

One of the world's most influential economists says Britain faces the prospect of two recessions in quick succession

Figures show sharp drop in consumer spending

Britons have reacted fearfully to soaring unemployment and a worsening squeeze on their incomes by reining in spending

Will Isle of Wight’s technology offer protection?

As doubts surface over a wind farm plan, the pullout by a turbine blade maker has raised fears for the future

UK credit rating threat as debt hits £8.5bn

Public borrowing soars to a new record for April as a leading rating agency warns over Britain's creditworthiness

Eurozone surveys show decline is slowing

It is third month in a row that activity in the services sector has improved, taking it to its best level since October

Retail sales rise but job fears spell caution

Consumer spending appears to be holding up despite the downturn although the effect of redundancies is yet to be felt

Banks fail to boost level of lending

Bank of England warns that lending to large and small companies remains weak while spreads and fees continue to rise

Business investment plummets by 5.5%

Gloomy figures heighten fears that economic recovery could be hampered as companies take time to step up capacity

Mortgage lending slumps 60 per cent in April

Hopes of a pick up in housing market dented by dismal figures showing gross lending plummeted despite late Easter

Retail sales rise 3% on Easter but fears linger

High street trade increased by more than expected, with this year's late Easter lifting revenues for April

CBI chief attacks Brown's 'economic vandalism'

Martin Broughton, outgoing CBI president and BA chairman, blasts Prime Minister at annual dinner over 50% tax rate

Fund managers bet on a bull market

Seven out of ten fund managers are forecasting an improvement in economic conditions in the next 12 months, survey finds

'Emerging economies face investment drop'

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development predicts dramatic decline in direct investment into developing nations

Japan close to depression after plunge in GDP

Analysts divided on prospects as January to March figures show worst decline in world's second-largest economy since 1947

Debt collection agencies called in by taxman

For the first time, HM Revenue & Customs is to put overdue tax bills out to debt collectors in a six-month experiment

Boost for Brown as IMF points to UK recovery

The International Money Fund's endorsement of UK progress is seized on by the Prime Minister in his speech to the CBI