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UK economy shrinks by 25 per cent

U.K. Economy - Level 4

The UK economy is at its worst for 300 years. The UK's Office for National Statistics said the economy was 25 per cent smaller in April than in February. The Bank of England said there was a 20.4 per cent drop in GDP in April. However, it was positive about the future. It said there were signs the economy was coming back to life. Much of the economy shut down to curb coronavirus. It has the biggest economic collapse among the world's developed nations.

The UK economy saw 20 years of growth wiped out because of lockdown. People are being encouraged to go shopping again, but people are worried. The number of daily deaths is still around 200. The Bank of England said: "The economy clearly closed out substantially….The big question is what happens next." A UK newspaper was pessimistic about any recovery. It wrote: "Britain's economy has fallen off a cliff. It will be a long climb back."

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U.K. Economy - Level 5

The UK suffered its worst performance since a mini ice age 300 years ago, when the River Thames froze. The UK's Office for National Statistics said the economy was 25 per cent smaller in April than in February. The Bank of England acknowledged there was a 20.4 per cent drop in GDP in April. It called this "a dramatic and big number". It was positive about the future and that there were signs the economy was coming back to life. Much of the UK economy shut down to curb coronavirus. It is experiencing the biggest collapse among the world's developed economies.

The UK economy has seen nearly 20 years' worth of growth wiped out because of lockdown measures. This week, people are being encouraged to go shopping again. Many shoppers remain wary about venturing out to shops, as the number of daily deaths is still around 200. The Bank of England said: "The economy clearly closed out substantially at the end of March into April. The big question is what happens next." The UK's 'Guardian' newspaper was pessimistic about any recovery. It wrote: "Britain's economy has fallen off a cliff. It will be a long climb back."

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

U.K. Economy - Level 6

The UK economy has suffered its worst economic performance since a mini ice age over 300 years ago when the River Thames froze. The UK's Office for National Statistics reported that the economy was around 25 per cent smaller in April than it was in February. The Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, acknowledged there was a 20.4 per cent drop in GDP in April alone. He called this "a dramatic and big number". He was positive about the future and said there were "signs of the economy now beginning to come back to life". Much of the UK economy shut down in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The UK has seen the biggest economic collapse among the world's developed economies.

The United Kingdom's economy has seen nearly 20 years' worth of growth wiped out because of the coronavirus lockdown measures. This week, people are being encouraged to go shopping again as many stores have reopened. Many shoppers remain wary about venturing out to shops or commuting, as the number of daily deaths is still around 200. Talking about the economic collapse, Mr Bailey said: "It's not surprising. The economy clearly closed out substantially at the end of March into April. The big question is what happens next." The UK's 'Guardian' newspaper was pessimistic about a recovery. It wrote: "Britain's economy has fallen off a cliff. It will be a long climb back."

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