'Recession 'is even worse than feared': Chancellor predicts steepest slump ever'

The recession is proving even deeper than feared, Alistair Darling will admit in next month's Pre-Budget report. The Chancellor will forecast the steepest annual slump since modern records began. But he is likely to put a brave face on the outlook by declaring that Britain has finally returned to growth in the fourth quarter of the year - Daily Mail​

Water companies' warnings of dividend cuts, job losses and lower capital spending appears to have paid off, after the regulator scaled back its requests for cuts to customer bills. Ofwat ruled that the companies should on average lower bills by £3 over the next five years, retreating from initial demands last July that prices should be £14 lower - The Telegraph​

The minority Scottish government's plan to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol north of the Border faces defeat by a coalition of opposition parties at Holyrood. Labour has made clear that its MSPs will combine with the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to vote against the move, thus ensuring that the Bill is blocked when it finally comes before Parliament early in the New Year - The Times​

More than a quarter of drinkers in England who exercise regularly do so in an attempt to make up for bingeing on alcohol, according to a survey published on Thursday. A total of 28 percent exercise in an attempt to burn off alcohol and one in five drink more than double the safe amounts recommended by doctors, the poll found - AFP​