Covid-19: UK economy plunges into deepest recession since records began

GDP falls 20.4% - the worst of any G7 nation in the three months to June

• Why is Britain's GDP down more than other major countries?
• Analysis: a full recovery from the Covid slump will be slow
• How does UK's Covid recession compare with previous ones?

Britain has entered the deepest recession since records began as official figures on Wednesday showed the economy shrank by more than any other major nation during the coronavirus outbreak in the three months to June.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product (GDP), the broadest measure of economic prosperity, fell in the second quarter by 20.4% compared with the previous three months - the biggest quarterly decline since comparable records began in 1955.

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One of the two main definitions of recession in the UK is at least two quarters of shrinking gross domestic product (GDP), the broadest measure of economic prosperity. Judged by this yardstick, the UK was last in recession in 2008-09, when there were six consecutive quarters of negative growth.