ECONOMY

Steve Turner is the Assistant General Secretary of trade union Unite.

Ed Balls, shadow chancellor, says the Labour Party 'won't stop talking about the cost of living crisis'

BRC says sales down in March because Easter falls in April, but underlying picture solid.

Europe is better prepared to deal with a disruption to Russian gas supplies than it was last time

Admiral Sir George Zambellas says an independent Scotland will damage Britain's defences

Only the US surpasses UK on foreign aid spending

HSBC says investment forecast growth outstrips pre-recessionary business behaviour

An informal economy has developed in Syria as warlords and profiteers search for the cash to fund their war machines

Osborne favours disputed "dynamic scoring" technique for supportive study on impact of his tax cuts.

There has been a huge rise in travel agency closures as more holidaymakers look for bargains online.

Nomura's senior political analyst says it could urge Catalonia and others to fight for 'hopes and dreams'

Egypt's planning minister says the richest fifth of the population will have to pay more for electricity soon

Palladium has outperformed other precious metals this year with a 14% jump in prices.

British, Dutch, American and South Korean firms bag orders from Kuwait National Petroleum (KNPC).

The Financial Conduct Authority is bringing in a tighter regime for mortgage lending in the UK.

Saudi attempt to acquire up to 800 German Leopard-2 tanks has suffered a set back

Global goods trade will not hit 5.3% levels until next year

Average earnings will rise above inflation this year - the first time since 2008.

Approval rating of French president bombs to all-time low

Shelter finds over quarter of Britons without savings and could not afford rent or mortgages for single month if unemployed.

A bulk of Asia's largest companies believe it will create rewards not risk

Singapore largely depends on external trade for its economic growth.

Ukraine crisis hits British blue chip stocks as pro-Russian militants hold their ground.

The Complete University Guide says graduates earned on average £21,702 in 2012.

E-retail sales index, compiled by Capgemini and IMRG, sees online shopping leap 17% over year.

Hangzho city with higher vacancy rates has become symbol of China's property market in distress.

Rising geopolitical tensions over Ukraine sent Brent crude futures above $108 a barrel

The TUC says self-employment has accounted for 44% of all employment growth since May 2010.

EY Item Club predicts small interest rates hike in 2015 but sharp increases after that.