lets start with the reasons behind this. things like bank holidays strikes, how important are they? they are important and they can have a push and pull impact on these figures. we tend to see a boost to pub and restaurant although that wasn t the case in may, on the other hand, we tend to see it has a negative impact on manufacturing and construction activity because of those extra days off which is exactly what we did see in may. there is no doubt that the bank holidays had an impact and resort services was pretty much flat in may. we saw human health was a bit stronger because there weren t any strike day byjunior doctors but there was an increase in the output for arts and entertainment. that s partly because of the bank holidays. it was a bit of a mixed report but as you say, we saw a contraction in may, a bit better than expected. but matt lets pick up on those pay deals. , . ., ., matt lets pick up on those pay deals. , . . . , deals. they have agreed a pay rise, what
that we have returned to negative growth? that we have returned to negative urowth? , that we have returned to negative . rowth? , ., . ., , that we have returned to negative urowth? , ., , , . growth? they were actually expecting 0.396 contraction growth? they were actually expecting 0.396 contraction during growth? they were actually expecting 0.396 contraction during may, - growth? they were actually expecting 0.396 contraction during may, due - growth? they were actually expecting 0.396 contraction during may, due to l 0.3% contraction during may, due to the impact of the extra bank holiday related to the coronation. pretty mixed bag. it is not great overall. if you look at the numbers over the last three months, the uk economy essentially flatlined, as you said in your preamble. the uk economy is barely larger than it was four years ago, pre covid. it s not looking great, and if you look at what the markets think in terms of longer term growth for the uk economy, the
has left the country. during the crisis, even i had ia chefs inside my kitchen. right now i have only two. i am running daily advertisements, so i m recruiting weekly. as a businessman, i don t see a clear future right now. in 2022, more than 300,000 left the country in search of a better future, the highest migration in sri lanka s history. the brain drain of the most skilled, like the doctors, paramedical staff, chefs, it professionals, is leaving a critical gap that economists worry can affect the country s economic recovery. government says imf s financial support is helping stabilise the economy. the present concern for the ranil wickremesinghe government, however, is to finalise debt restructuring talks before the imf review in september.
prices of everyday goods have continued to soar. this, coupled with lower incomes and higher taxes, has caused living standards to drop. for small businesses, higher input costs are eating into profits. last year, chattooga was on the verge of closing down his restaurant. a year later, he s still struggling. most of the skilled labour has left the country. during the crisis, even i had ia chefs inside my kitchen. right now i have only two. i am running daily advertisements, so i m recruiting weekly. as a businessman, i don t see a clear future right now. in 2022, more than 300,000 left the country in search of a better future, the highest migration in sri lanka s history. the brain drain of the most skilled, like the doctors, paramedical staff, chefs, it professionals, is leaving a critical gap that