The UK economic system rediscovered the reverse in January, as new coronavirus lockdowns hit manufacturing as commerce took a tough hit by Brexit, official figures present.

The preliminary estimate of a 2.9% contraction in gross home product (GDP) from the earlier month, from the Nationwide Statistics Workplace (ONS), was higher than the determine of practically 5% anticipated by the economists.

It follows a development of 1.2% measured for December.

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There was no particular point out within the GDP report of an affect brought on by the UK’s departure from the EU, with January marking the tip of the Brexit transition interval.

Nonetheless, separate ONS commerce information highlighted the most important month-to-month decline in UK items imports and exports since data started in January 1997 and sparked a political row within the course of.

The ONS noticed a 41% drop in exports to the EU within the month – price £ 5.6bn – alongside a £ 6.6bn drop in imports from of the block.

This equates, in response to the report, to a discount of 29%.

ONS Deputy Nationwide Statistician for Financial Statistics Jonathan Athow mentioned: “The economic system was hit noticeably in January, though smaller than some anticipated, retail companies, eating places, with colleges and hairdressers all affected by the newest lockdown.

“The manufacturing sector additionally noticed its first decline since April, with auto manufacturing falling considerably.

“Nonetheless, the rise in well being companies because of each the roll-out of vaccines and the rise in testing partially offset declines in different industries.

“Imports and exports to the EU fell sharply in January, a lot of which is probably going because of momentary components.

“Suggestions from our extra well timed surveys and different indicators means that buying and selling began to get well in the direction of the tip of the month.”

The commerce figures mirrored the cautiousness of firms in early January amid confusion over new crimson tape at ports and coronavirus testing procedures imposed on drivers.

There was additionally robust proof of storage earlier than December 31 to keep away from potential disruption.

The federal government mentioned total freight volumes returned to regular ranges in February and the info must be handled with warning.

However Labor responded by saying the figures made it clear “what number of UK companies have been grappling with the brand new burdens of pricey crimson tape and forms wherein the federal government has enveloped them”.

The ONS mentioned the toll of coronavirus exercise meant the economic system remained 9% beneath its pre-crisis peak.

The companies sector was hit hardest in January, as hospitality and leisure companies have been compelled to close down because of UK-wide measures to manage the unfold of the illness.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak mentioned of the info: “At this time’s figures spotlight the affect the pandemic continued to have on our economic system at first of the yr as we grapple with the information. variant of the virus – and I do know this can be a trigger for concern to many.

“However we even have cause to be hopeful – we have now set a transparent roadmap to get out of the pandemic, the NHS has vaccinated over 23 million folks and my finances final week outlined our three-part plan to defending the roles and livelihoods of the British folks.

“We’ll proceed to guard jobs and companies so long as this disaster lasts, we will likely be trustworthy with folks and put public funds on a extra sustainable path, and we are going to start the work of constructing our future economic system.”

Economists mentioned the weaker-than-expected contraction mirrored the truth that many companies had adjusted, however the truth that colleges had been closed – forcing many mother and father out of workplaces – inflicted harm.

Samuel Tombs, UK chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, mentioned: “Extra lately, enterprise surveys, well timed retail gross sales information and transport utilization figures present that the economic system has grown. already recovered a few of the floor misplaced in January.

“In consequence, the quarterly decline in GDP within the first quarter (first quarter) is predicted to be near 2%.”

Specialists largely agree that the gradual exits from lockdowns, aided by the UK vaccination program and continued help from authorities plans together with holidays, ought to keep away from a recession as exercise is predicted to rebound strongly within the second quarter of the yr.