IMF Has Worsened Its Forecast For The United Kingdom's Economy
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has worsened its forecast for the United Kingdom's economy this year and next after new coronavirus cases have accelerated in recent weeks.
IMF Has Worsened Its Forecast For The United Kingdom's Economy
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has worsened its forecast for the United Kingdom's economy this year and next after new coronavirus cases have accelerated in recent weeks.The fund, which expected the British economy to shrink by 9.8 percent this year, now predicts a decline of 10.4 percent.At the same time, the IMF expects the recovery in Britain to be weaker next year and the economy to grow by 5.7 percent.So far, the fund has estimated that next year's growth will be 5.9 percent.IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said fears of a "second wave" coronavirus pandemic in Europe had now become a reality.The British government has so far responded to the resurgence in coronavirus cases by tightening restrictions in those parts of England where the virus is most prevalent.The head of the monetary fund expressed hope that the negative impact of the restrictions on the economy would not be as profound as the impact of the nationwide lockdown that Britain applied in March.The UK economy then shrunk by almost a quarter.