Britain's economy is expected to show signs of a significant slowdown when official figures for April are released on Friday, following a surprisingly strong start to the year. Forecasts anticipate a sharp pullback, largely attributed to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East impacting fuel prices.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data is set to reveal the initial squeeze on household finances as the conflict drove up petrol and diesel costs. Retail figures for April have already indicated a stark downturn, with sales falling at their fastest rate in almost a year, down 1.3 per cent.
