UK economy shrinks more than expected

According to the official data, Britain’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.3% between October and December last year, indicating that the UK households continue to be squeezed by an annual drop in their disposable income, high inflation rate and muted wage growth.

The ONS attributed the downward revision of the UK GDP to weaker performance in the transport, business services, finance sector, and communications.

British Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said the ONS figures “show that since George Osborne’s spending review our economy has flat-lined and not grown at all.”

“It’s now even clearer that last week’s Budget not only made the wrong choice by asking millions to pay more so millionaires could pay less, it also made the wrong choice in sticking to policies that are failing on jobs, growth and the deficit,” he added.

Furthermore, referring to the “disappointing” figures, David Kern, the Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, said that although “the UK economy faces huge challenges”, it would avoid a double-dip recession.

Criticizing the recent budget for not having done “enough to benefit small- and medium-sized businesses,” he added, “More must be done as a matter of urgency to help firms create jobs, export and invest.”

SSM/PKH/HE

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