Coronavirus is expensive for the British. Second country for the number of deaths linked to the pandemic - 41,364 died on June 11 -, the United Kingdom recorded in April a record plunge in its activity. During this first full month of containment, GDP, which fell 5.8% in March, fell 20.4%.
All the major sectors have melted, whether in services, industry or construction. Pubs, education, health and car sales were among the most affected. Exports and imports fell. In the second quarter, the collapse could reach 35% now estimates the OBR, the institute that publishes estimates for the government.
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“ We now want to work on a slow recovery of the economy. Confidence will return and we will see a rebound in the United Kingdom, "Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday.
The restrictions are gradually lifted and all businesses will reopen from Monday. But it will be necessary to wait at least July for pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and probably later for theaters and other gathering places.
Economists anticipate a rebound in activity from the second half, but question its magnitude. In the meantime, the fall in activity is accompanied by a spike in unemployment. And between " the mismanagement of the Covid-19, the lack of eagerness to negotiate Brexit with the EU (see page 6), the budget deficit or even the heavy public debt ", the challenges are numerous, point out the economists of Candriam, " very negative " on the British economy.
