Germany in recession as coronavirus blights eurozone economies

France and Italy also slide into recession as lockdown measures cut consumer spending and investment

Germany has fallen into recession following the sharpest economic slump since the 2008 financial crisis, as the coronavirus pandemic causes severe damage for growth and jobs across the eurozone.

Europe's largest economy shrank by 2.2% in the three months to the end of March, the country's second-largest decrease since reunification.

One of the two main definitions of recession in the UK is at least two quarters of negative economic growth. Judged by this yardstick, the UK was last in recession in 2008-09, when there were six consecutive quarters of negative growth.