UK economy still lagging behind other nations despite upgraded forecast

Only Germany, which fell into a recession over the start of the year and is set to stagnate throughout 2023, will perform worse than the UK.

Analysis from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecast that the UK’s economy will just about eke out growth this year.

It expects GDP to edge up by 0.3% before improving moderately to 1% growth in 2024.

It compares to the OECD’s previous forecast in March of a 0.2% decline in GDP this year followed by a rise of 0.9% next year.

All other economies in the G7 apart from Germany – the US, Canada, France, Italy, and Japan – are expected to grow at faster rates this year, showing Britain is lagging behind on the international stage.

It is also a significantly slower rate when compared to the group of 20 (G20) advanced economies as a whole, which is predicted to see GDP growth of 2.8% this year and 2.9% next year.

“The global economy is turning a corner but faces a long road ahead to attain strong and sustainable growth,” the OECD’s chief economist Clare Lombardelli said.

The UK economy will be “propped up” by Government investment and spending, including on energy bills support measures, the OECD said.

And as energy prices come down, inflation will ease and global economic conditions will improve.

“However, weak household income growth will weigh on consumption despite the fall in inflation, monetary tightening will slow both housing and already sluggish business investment, and uncertainty will continue to reduce the contribution of trade to growth,” the OECD said in its report.

Core inflation – which does not account for food and energy prices – is set to be more persistent, only receding to 3.2% in 2024, the projections show. And unemployment will rise, reaching 4.5% next year.

The Paris-headquartered organisation also stressed that women’s skills are not being fully utilised in the labour market, because they disproportionately work part time due to caring duties.

It urged that the Government’s new childcare measure be “implemented swiftly” to improve participation in the national workforce – which offers 30 hours a week of free childcare for working parents of nine-to-24-month-old children.

The policy is not due to come into effect until 2024, and may not be fully in play until September 2025.

The OECD also said that energy support should be gradually withdrawn, except for measures supporting vulnerable households.