Financial markets: Economic indicators
The price of shares and commodities can help show the health of the economy. Find the latest data on the prices of shares, oil and gold.

Analysis of the latest key UK and international economic indicators.
Economic Indicators, Budget Update (406 KB , PDF)
On Wednesday 22 November, the Chancellor will present the Budget to the House of Commons. How are the economy and public finances performing? For more information see the Library briefing Autumn Budget 2017: Background briefing.
Growth
Economic growth has been stable but modest so far in 2017 on the back of a slowdown in consumer spending. Latest quarterly GDP growth of 0.4% in the third quarter (Q3 2017) was similar to the 0.3% recorded in Q1 and Q2.
However, GDP growth has been slowing. GDP growth stood at 1.5% in Q3 2017 compared with a year before. This contrasts with many other advanced economies, particularly the Eurozone, which has seen growth accelerate in 2017.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) – the producers of the official forecasts – has said that it intends to lower its productivity forecasts at Autumn Budget 2017, presumably resulting in it lowering its GDP growth forecasts.
Prices and wages
Consumers have been squeezed by rising inflation following past falls in the value of the pound, notably following the June 2016 EU referendum. Inflation is currently at 3.0%, while average wage growth adjusted for inflation was 0.6% lower than a year before.
Wage growth remains weak despite unemployment being at its lowest rate since 1975 and near-record employment rates.
Interest rates
With inflation well above its 2% target, the Bank of England raised interest rates from 0.25% to 0.5% in early November. This was the first rate increase since 2007. The decision to raise rates was also partly a result of the Bank lowering its expectations of the economy’s potential growth rate, itself a consequence of lower productivity growth forecasts.
Borrowing and debt
In 2016/17 the government borrowed £46 billion to make up the difference between its spending and income raised from taxes and other sources. Borrowing, often referred to as the deficit, is now at a similar level to before the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
In March 2017, the OBR forecast that the government will borrow more in 2017/18 than in 2016/17. This is still expected to be the case, despite an improvement in the borrowing data for the first half of 2017/18. The OBR forecast that borrowing will decrease in subsequent years up to the end of their forecast in 2021/22.
At 86% of GDP, public sector net debt – largely the stock of borrowing arising from past deficits – remains relatively high by recent and international standards. The OBR forecast it to fall to around 80% of GDP by the end of this Parliament.
Developments since March 2017
A series of developments since March 2017 may impact on the OBR’s borrowing forecasts:
Economic Indicators, Budget Update (406 KB , PDF)
The price of shares and commodities can help show the health of the economy. Find the latest data on the prices of shares, oil and gold.
Sterling often changes in value relative to other currencies. Find the latest data on exchange rates overall and against the dollar and euro.
Debt levels affect how much households spend. Find the latest data on UK household debt, mortgage rates and insolvencies.