UK economy heading for worst year since crash, say economists

Forecasting body blames growing risks of no-deal Brexit as it downgrades estimate

The British economy is heading for its worst year in almost a decade amid the growing risks from no-deal Brexit, according to a leading economic forecaster.

After official figures revealed zero growth in GDP in August, the EY Item Club said the economy would struggle to recover in the final months of the year owing to the increasing likelihood of Britain crashing out of the EU in less than six months' time.

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