The true extent of Britain's COVID-19 death toll was more than 40% higher than the government's daily figures indicated as of Apr 10, according to data that put the country on track to become among the worst-hit in Europe.
Stockpiling by manufacturers ahead of Brexit helped the UK economy grow by 0.3% in the three months to February. The national s pointed to manufacturers changing the timing of their activities as the UK's exit from the EU approaches.
British Chancellor Philip Hammond has rejected calls by Labour and some Conservatives to announce the end of austerity in his spring statement on Tuesday. He is expected to unveil the smallest budget deficit since 2002, thanks to better than expected public finances.
The UK is in a sustained recovery and does not face major inflation risks, Bank of England policymakers have said. Minutes from the Monetary Policy Committee's November meeting showed the nine members all voted to leave interest rates at 0.5%.
United Kingdom consumer price inflation unexpectedly jumped to a 17-month high in April, 3.7%, driven by big rises in tax on alcohol and tobacco as well as higher prices for women's clothing and food, data showed.