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| Data set to show slump continuing | Data set to show slump continuing |
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| The UK economy shrank in the first three months of 2009 at about the same pace as it did in the final quarter of 2008, figures are expected to show. | The UK economy shrank in the first three months of 2009 at about the same pace as it did in the final quarter of 2008, figures are expected to show. |
| Analysts forecast that gross domestic product (GDP) will have shrunk by 1.5% from January to March, having dropped 1.6% between October and December 2008. | Analysts forecast that gross domestic product (GDP) will have shrunk by 1.5% from January to March, having dropped 1.6% between October and December 2008. |
| The government has already warned that the economy will shrink this year at its fastest pace since World War II. | The government has already warned that the economy will shrink this year at its fastest pace since World War II. |
| It follows Wednesday's announcement that 2.1 million people are unemployed. | It follows Wednesday's announcement that 2.1 million people are unemployed. |
| We are still talking about contracting GDP and rising unemployment for the rest of the year Simon HayesEconomist, Barclays Capital Coping in recession | We are still talking about contracting GDP and rising unemployment for the rest of the year Simon HayesEconomist, Barclays Capital Coping in recession |
| Martin Weale from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research has predicted that the economy will shrink by 6% in the duration of the current recession. | Martin Weale from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research has predicted that the economy will shrink by 6% in the duration of the current recession. |
| "There's always a risk that, as has happened with the financial crisis, people think things have calmed down and then it turns nasty again," he said. | "There's always a risk that, as has happened with the financial crisis, people think things have calmed down and then it turns nasty again," he said. |
| "But unless something extremely unpleasant like that happens I think probably we have had the bulk of the contraction now." | "But unless something extremely unpleasant like that happens I think probably we have had the bulk of the contraction now." |
| See how the economy has grown since 1980 | See how the economy has grown since 1980 |
| Continuing problems | Continuing problems |
| In January, the UK economy met the widely accepted definition of a recession: two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth. | In January, the UK economy met the widely accepted definition of a recession: two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth. |
| Suada Hamidi who is unemployed, explains how she survives on £50.95 a week | Suada Hamidi who is unemployed, explains how she survives on £50.95 a week |
| The chief UK economist at Barclays Capital, Simon Hayes, said rising unemployment and concern over finances meant that consumers and businesses would have continued to cut back on spending at a similar rate early this year as at the end of last year. | The chief UK economist at Barclays Capital, Simon Hayes, said rising unemployment and concern over finances meant that consumers and businesses would have continued to cut back on spending at a similar rate early this year as at the end of last year. |
| "The sharpest falls in GDP may have already happened - but we are still talking about contracting GDP and rising unemployment for the rest of the year," he said. | "The sharpest falls in GDP may have already happened - but we are still talking about contracting GDP and rising unemployment for the rest of the year," he said. |
| The Chancellor, Alistair Darling, told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the government would be forced to borrow £175bn this year as the recession battered the UK economy. | The Chancellor, Alistair Darling, told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the government would be forced to borrow £175bn this year as the recession battered the UK economy. |
| In his Budget he said that the UK would return to growth by the end of 2009. However, many analysts say that this was optimistic. | In his Budget he said that the UK would return to growth by the end of 2009. However, many analysts say that this was optimistic. |
| The IMF has forecast that the UK economy will decline by 4.1% this year and by 0.4% next year. | |
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