UK offers extra US$6.2 billion to firms

UK offers extra US$6.2 billion to firms ANDY BRUCE AND DAVID MILLIKEN

Britain offered a 4.6 billion-pound (US$6.2 billion) support package for businesses on Tuesday to soften an expected recession caused by a surge in Covid-19 cases that has triggered a third national lockdown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the lockdown on Monday, saying a highly contagious coronavirus variant risked overwhelming the health service within 21 days.

Most people must work from home and schools have closed for almost all pupils. Hospitality venues must stay shut, as well as non-essential shops.

Britain's economy looks likely to tip back into recession shrinking in the final quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 following a record 25% fall in output in the first two months of lockdown in 2020.

The new downturn is expected to be far softer, with most businesses now much better adapted to working remotely and construction sites and factories expected to stay open.

Economists at J.P. Morgan still predicted a 2.5% fall in output for the first three months of 2021.

JOB PROTECTION

Finance minister Rishi Sunak has previously announced emergency help for the economy worth 280 billion pounds, including a massive job protection scheme that will run until the end of April.

Under Tuesday's additional measures, retail, hospitality and leisure companies will be able to claim one-off grants worth up to 9 000 pounds to get them through the coming months, costing up to 4 billion pounds in total, along with 600 million pounds of grants for other businesses.

Government forecasters in November predicted almost 400 billion pounds of borrowing this financial year, equivalent to 19% of GDP - a peacetime record but one that, at least for now, can be financed at record-low interest rates.

The Bank of England is buying government debt and in November ramped up its asset purchase programme to almost 900 billion pounds with the intention of using it throughout 2021.

"While this immediate cashflow support for business is welcome, it is not going to be enough to save many firms," BCC director general Adam Marshall said. - Nampa/AFP