United Kingdom Economic Snapshot
Economic Forecast Summary (December 2021)
The economy is recovering and expected to reach pre-crisis levels at the beginning of 2022. Output is projected to rise by 6.9% in 2021, with growth moderating to 4.7% in 2022 and 2.1% in 2023. Consumption is the main driver of growth during the projection period. Business investment will improve but continues to be held back by uncertainty. Increased border costs following the exit from the EU Single Market are weighing on imports and exports. Unemployment will continue to decline. Inflation will keep increasing due to higher energy and commodity prices and continuing supply shortages. It is expected to peak at 4.9% in the first half of 2022 and then fall back towards the 2% target by the end of 2023.
Reform Priorities (April 2021)
Going for Growth 2021 - United Kingdom
Vulnerable social groups have been particularly affected by the pandemic and poverty is set to increase as jobs are lost and self-employed see incomes dwindle, accentuating regional differences. The COVID-19 crisis has emphasized the need to re-train and up-skill the population, secure access to affordable housing by reducing bottlenecks to supply and to revive investment.
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2021 Structural Reform Priorities
- Education and skills: Boost funding for lifelong learning
- Infrastructure: Increase public investment, prioritising digital infrastructure and deprived regions
- Housing: Improve housing supply and competition in construction
- Labour market: Increase support for full-time good-quality childcare
- R&D and digitalisation: Ensure a balance between direct R&D support and tax incentives