UK Economy: Jeremy Hunt warns UK is 'not out of the woods'

The UK economy grew by 0% in the past three months according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), meaning that a recession had been narrowly avoided in the second half of last year.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said despite the figures, the UK is "not out of the woods" yet.

He added: "The fact the UK was the fastest growing economy in the G7 last year, as well as avoiding a recession, shows our economy is more resilient than many feared. However, we are not out of the woods yet, particularly when it comes to inflation.

"If we stick to our plan to halve inflation this year, we can be confident of having amongst the best prospects for growth of anywhere in Europe."

#economy #jeremyhunt #government #conservative #rishisunak

[nevillepass]

Increasing sanctions on people who find themselves long term unemployed, who in my experience are mostly carers, autistic, mental health problems, artist with no opportunity, why is it acceptable to punish the poorest people while they go back to their million pound houses

[Jess-T]

Ok, so wages cannot be raised by increased government borrowing because that would raise inflation. Fine, that's clear. The solution then, is to increase corporate taxation. Wages have to be raised, and the money has to be found somewhere. I read that Shell posted record profits in Q4 for example.

[stephenheap]

what a joke this guy is unreal wholesale gas prices are so low. yet putting energy prices up in april roll on next general election

[veronicagallo]

*Never mind, Zelensky's needs are way over UK citizens needs.*

[DavidJohnson-dclu]

Recession has been missed because the calculations of a recession has been fudged. Economic circumstances is really based on public spending, exports and businesses, they have ignored that and calculated Gov't borrowing and spending on the privatised energy services. Borrowing and spending given to hold up households and businesses to help with out of control energy prices. Other words the UK is flipped.

[miraclenwankwo]

As long as the situation has nothing to do with Ukraine, it's not important

[berserkirclaws]

Tell that to Daniel Craig who's begging us for money want people in UK suffer through their own crisis who have been created by our own government!!!

[earnestequivocation]

Investing ‘record sums’ in whatever is meaningless dross given an increasing population and rocketing inflation.
NHS spending a fortune on agency…..who’s benefiting from that failure to address root cause issues?

[themanofthehour]

The country is never out of the woods if the tory party is still in power.

[equalizer]

This lot couldnt 'Run A Bath' !.... Vote Labour just to get them out

[leebolton]

If he made his rich friends pay uk tax and foreign businesses pay uk tax and stop giving billions to Zelensky and all our new military weapons then we would have the richest economy of the G7..

[James_Doyle]

No because he's a creepy thing in the woods so are the rest of the tories

[gerrytowie]

Please can an interviewer know their stuff and point out that 'record investment' in the NHS now does not make up for previous 10 years of under funding.

[channelisomo]

When UK was out of the "woods" ?? Always been in "woods" ...give higher wages than take more in Bills, Essentials and Tax ...

[Tiredmum]

And we never will be with him as chancellor. Horrid man

[drew]

It's not rocket science to bring done energy prices. Give more licences in the North Sea, legalise fracking provided there is local consent, and stop punishing Oil, Gas, and Energy producers for having a product everyone wants. At least until we have sufficient renewable energy sources

[monkeyboy]

I'm curious how low the UK economy can be dragged down by billionaire Sunak and his Hunt chancellor before their removal.

[paxundpeace]

Q4 flat no growth and Q3 was already negative.
The UK is heading into recession this year.

[ep]

Hunt is talking crap - eg, a private business can't get staff as they won't work for the rates being paid or a company is hemorrhaging staff as they are voting with their feet, what is the company supposed to do?

[petertyson]

Give them nurse and drivers there money. 40 years of giving them peanuts.