'A sobering first quarter' ahead: UK GDP falls 2.9% in January amid third national lockdown

Follows 1.2% uptick in December

The UK economy shrank by 2.9% in January this year after it was hit with a third national lockdown, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The fall, which comes one month after a 1.2% uptick in economic growth in December, was 9% below levels last seen before the first lockdown in February last year, and 4% below the initial recovery peak in October 2020. The services sector dealt the biggest blow to UK GDP having fallen by 3.5% as a direct result of the lockdown. Growth for the sector was down 10.2% compared to February last year and 4.9% below levels seen in October. Government response 'crucial' as UK GDP nudges 1% higher in Q4 2020 Meanwhile, the production sector fell for the first time in eight months at 1.5%. T...