To grasp how low are the expectations for the UK economy, consider this: on Wednesday it was announced that the national output had just had its biggest drop since the great crash of 2008 — and the immediate response of many analysts was surprise that it had not fallen further.

Even so, the statistics make grim reading. Over the first three months of 2020, GDP shrank 2% on the previous quarter. The economy was already slowing in February, and then came the UK’s first coronavirus deaths. In March alone, GDP plunged nearly 6% (https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/bulletins/gdpmonthlyestimateuk/march2020?hootPostID=2b4f79ef951a39d66dfbb88a196a4492) — the greatest contraction since records began in 1997...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.