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.

The level of output the economy produces for a given input is called productivity. Find the latest data on UK and international productivity.
Productivity: Key Economic Indicators (75 KB , PDF)
Economic indicators are quick-read summaries of the latest data focusing on different aspects of the UK economy. The full suite of indicators can be found on the main Economic Indicators page.
One of the most important factors in determining living standards is productivity – how much output is produced for a given input (such as an hour of work).
In Q3 2024, productivity was estimated to be 1.8% lower compared with a year ago (Q3 2023), according to the latest ONS flash estimate. Productivity was down by 0.8% compared with the previous quarter and was 1.3% higher compared to before the pandemic in Q4 2019.
Historically, UK labour productivity has grown by around 2% per year but since the 2008/2009 recession it has risen more slowly (see chart above). The effects of the pandemic presented significant challenges in the measurement of productivity, but it appears the pre-pandemic trend of sluggish productivity growth has continued.
In 2023, ranked on GDP per hour worked, the UK came fourth highest out of the G7 countries, with the US highest and Japan lowest. UK productivity was around 18% below the US.
This page is updated when new data is published. The next source updates will be:
ONS, Productivity flash estimate and overview, UK, 18 February 2025
Productivity: Key Economic Indicators (75 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.
Unemployment data tells us about the strength of the labour market. Find the latest data on unemployment in several major world economies.
GDP measures the size of the economy. Find the latest GDP data for the UK and updated forecasts for GDP growth.