THE UK economy grew by 2.3% in April when pubs, shops and restaurants could after months of being in lockdown.
It marks the fastest monthly growth since July 2020 when the UK’s Gross Domestic Product – a measure of the size of the economy – grew 7.3%.
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But despite April’s growth, the economy still remains 3.7% below what it used to be before the pandemic hit in February 2020, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.
The recent economy boost was driven by the reopening of hospitality businesses, the ONS said.
England’s boozers, restaurants and non-essential shops could reopen once more under stage two of the PM’s roadmap out of lockdown.
Brits could finally grab a pint or a bite to eat outside, while the high street buzzed once more with customers.
It meant that the services industry grew by 3.4% during that month as people splashed cash after rules started to relax, the ONS said.
But it still remains 4.1% below its pre-Covid level in February 2020.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said today’s figures are a “promising sign” that the economy is beginning to recover.
He said: “With more than a million people coming off furlough across March and April and the number of employees in work rising, it is clear that our Plan for Jobs is working.
“But I know there are people who still need our support, which is why the furlough scheme is in place until September to protect as many jobs as possible, and schemes like Kickstart will continue to create jobs for young people, as we look to build the economy of the future.”
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