Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Heather Stewart Economics editor

UK economy limps along at 0.1% growth – but there are reasons for optimism in 2026

A shopper on Oxford Street in London, Britain, looks at her phone while walking past a sale sign.
The Treasury will be hoping that another rate cut, alongside its anti-inflation measures, will cheer up wary consumers and reassure businesses. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

Rachel Reeves has suggested 2026 is the year Labour can start to deliver on its economic promises; but 0.1% GDP growth in the final quarter of last year is hardly the springboard she was hoping for.

In the supportive message on X she sent on Monday as Keir Starmer’s future appeared under threat, the chancellor claimed “the conditions for the economy to grow are there”.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.