Inflation and industrial unrest in UK threaten a timetable of trouble

Boris Johnson's hopes of an economic reset' look unlikely in the face of rising fears over pay and the cost of living

Soaring inflation, an economy falling to the bottom of global league tables, and a summer of strike action ahead. As Boris Johnson attempts to reset the political agenda, the economic backdrop could hardly be worse.

This week the government will face more troubling news, with official figures on Monday expected to show the economy came close to stalling in April as families struggled with a record rise in energy bills. On Tuesday, fresh data will probably confirm wages again failed to keep pace with the cost of living, while the Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates to tighten the screw on household and business borrowing.