Britain's economy expanded by 0.5 percent in the three months to April, helped by restocking and a competitive exchange rate, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said yesterday.

Halifax said house prices fell 0.1 percent last month compared with a downwardly revised 1 percent increase in March, and confounding forecasts for a 0.5 percent rise.

Shop price inflation accelerated sharply in April, driven by commodity price rises, the reversal of a cut in value-added tax and the weak pound, a survey showed yesterday

The GfK NOP survey, conducted on behalf of the European Commission, gave an overall consumer confidence index score of -16, down one point from March but well above the -27 recorded in April last year

House prices in England and Wales rose by an annual 1.8 percent in April, the fastest pace of increase since January 2008

Consumer price inflation rose more than expected in March, led by knock-on effects from gas bills that were flat last month after falling a year ago

The housing market gathered pace in April, with sellers asking 6.0 percent more for their homes than a year ago, up from 5.3 percent in March

The housing market cooled abruptly last month, a survey showed yesterday, but consumers splashed out for Easter despite uncertainty ahead of next month's election

Euro zone finance ministers approved a giant 30-billion-euro emergency aid mechanism for debt-plagued Greece on Sunday, but stressed Athens had not requested the plan be activated yet

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is set to announce today a May 6 parliamentary election, which could bring down the curtain on 13 years of rule by his Labour Party.