This is the Guardian.

Today is the UK heading towards a recession.

Last week, the Prime Minister was asked about the prospect of the UK economy tanking.

Do you think we're headed towards recession?

I think that we can...

I think I'm absolutely not necessarily at all.

I think there are ways forward for the UK that are incredibly exciting.

Not necessarily at all.

It's hardly a ringing endorsement.

Richard Partington, the Guardian's economics correspondent, shares the same concerns.

I'm quite worried about it.

We're going through this unprecedented period in the economy.

I mean, we say that with alarming regularity these days, to be honest.

I mean, we went through the COVID pandemic.

We had the financial crisis 10 years ago.

I mean, all of these things are supposed to be once in a century events.

But then straight away, we have this extreme squeeze on household living standards.

And this is just the beginning of it.

We all know a cost of living crisis is underway.

And there are fears that it will tip the country into a full-blown recession.

The government's office for budget responsibility reckons it's going to be the worst squeeze on

household since the 1950s when modern records began.

...