UK economy saw partial recovery in Q3, recession risks still ahead

UK economy saw partial recovery in Q3, recession risks still ahead

Shoppers at a supermarket in London on Tuesday. Reuters



Britain's economic recovery from its coronavirus crash was quicker than previously thought in the third quarter, according to official data, but new lockdowns are threatening to cause a another recession.

Tuesday's data also showed government borrowing sped up last month to pay for the mounting cost of the coronavirus crisis.

Gross domestic product grew by a record 16.0% from July to September, revised up from a previous estimate of 15.5%.

But that still did not make up for its 18.8% slump in the second quarter, when much of the economy was shut down.

The economy almost ground to a halt in October and is expected to shrink again in the fourth quarter as worries about the Dec. 31 deadline for a Brexit trade deal with the European Union compound the damage from COVID-19.

Britain's economy was hit harder by the pandemic