POLL-UK economy to take at least two years to return to pre-COVID-19 level Reuters 1/15/2021 reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url=cpurl://apps.cp./Apps/cb-polls?RIC=GBBASEQP BoE poll data Reuters poll graphic on United Kingdom economic growth, inflation and interest rate outlook: https://tmsnrt.rs/3bEz6tW
By Jonathan Cable
LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - It will take more than two years for Britain s economy to recover to its pre-COVID-19 level, a Reuters poll found, but the Bank of England was still expected to keep rates steady until at least 2024 and to avoid negative borrowing costs.
The British government has been ramping up its coronavirus vaccination programme in one of the hardest hit countries by the pandemic but another national lockdown, which is hurting the dominant service industry the most, means the economy will shrink again this quarter.
It will take more than two years for Britain's economy to recover to its pre-COVID-19 level, a Reuters poll found, but the Bank of England was still expected to keep rates steady until at least 2024 and to avoid negative borrowing costs.