Figures released later this week are expected to show that the economy grew 5% in August. This would mark a decline on the 6.6% month-on-month rise recorded in July and the 8.7% increase seen in June. Howard Archer, chief economic adviser to the EY Item Club, said that if the forecast of 5% month-on-month in August is correct, “this will cut the decline in economic activity from 11.7% in the year to July to 7.1% in the year to August.” Analysis from research group Consensus Economics shows that the average forecast from analysts for GDP over 2020 has slipped from a fall of 9% three months ago to 9.9% a month ago to 10.1% now. However, growth projections for 2021 have risen from 6.1% to 6.4% to 6.5% now.
Read more: The Mail on Sunday