BRITISH households and firms must be protected from “Trump-slump,” the TUC warned today as the economy grew by just 0.5 per cent.

The Office for National Statistics said that GDP grew month-on-month in February at its fastest rate since January 2024, following upwardly revised 0.1 per cent growth in January.

Most economists had forecast 0.1 per cent growth.

But the figures come amid forecasts that Britain’s output will be hardest hit this year by the fallout from the war in Iran and soaring energy costs.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said it is positive that the economy had a strong February, but said: “Donald Trump’s illegal war risks setting back material gains seen in recent months and making us all poorer.

“Working people and businesses are already being hammered by Trumpflation — with petrol, gas and mortgage costs going through the roof.”

Mr Nowak said the government should pull out all the stops to protect the economy from this “Trump-slump,” including through a gas price cap and expanding access to its energy price support scheme.

Long-term, ministers must go all out to protect the country and ensure those with the deepest pockets shoulder the cost, he said.