But two sets of figures make a very different point, and should help us to remember that we are certainly not doomed forever, or even the near future.
First are those very encouraging statistics for infections, which have shown an unexpected but nonetheless steady fall – although we don’t yet know whether this is just a blip or whether we really are past the peak of this third wave.
But the second bit of good news seems more certain. According to a prediction from the respected forecasters the EY Item Club, the economy is set to surge by 7.6 per cent this year – the fastest growth rate since 1941. That’s much faster than previous predictions and means we will be back at pre-pandemic levels by December. Last year the same forecasters said it would take until 2024 for us to make a full recovery, so it is encouraging news.
IN PART because of the vaccine rollout, consumer spending has shot back in recent months. The forecasters say the reopening of shops, bars and restaurants is driving us to go out and spend some of the £200billion that we saved during the pandemic.
This story is from the July 27, 2021 edition of Daily Express.
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This story is from the July 27, 2021 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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