Brexit

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A drop in manufacturing output, a slowdown for the construction industry and a widening in Britain’s trade deficit have added to fears that the economy will struggle to eke out much growth this year. In the latest sign that the resilience seen after last summer’s Brexit vote has waned, a trio of weaker-than-expected reports from the Office for National Statistics knocked the pound lower against the dollar and the euro on Friday. The figures also dampened bets that the Bank of England could raise interest rates in coming months.

Fears for UK economy after trio of weaker-than-expected growth reports | Business | The Guardian

Almost a quarter of the teachers who have qualified since 2011 have already left the profession, according to official figures that have prompted further concerns about the pressures on the profession. Of those who qualified in 2011 alone, close to a third (31%) had quit within five years of becoming teachers, the figures show. The official rate of dropouts from the profession was published as the government came under pressure to relax the 1% pay cap that has been placed on teachers’ pay until 2020.

Almost a quarter of teachers who have qualified since 2011 have left profession | Education | The Guardian

Regular pay adjusted to account for the impact of inflation fell by 0.5% year on year over the period, shrinking family incomes and signalling a weaker outlook for consumer spending. It followed a 0.6% drop in real pay in the three months to April, and a 0.4% fall in the previous three months, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Real pay fell despite a surprise drop in the unemployment rate from 4.6% to 4.5%, which was the lowest since May to July 1975.

UK pay squeeze intensifies as real wages continue to fall | Business | The Guardian