GDP is still looking lean, despite – or because of – August's discount dinners

Thursday's economic data will be lifted by eat out to help out' - but critics say it led to a Covid surge that will hit future growth

Rishi Sunak's popular eat out to help out" scheme will be remembered in this week's publication of third-quarter GDP figures for the major boost it gave Britain's pub and restaurant trade.

In the August rush to grab a discount dinner it seemed like every table in every hospitality venue in the country was booked between Monday and Wednesday, and analysts believe that underpinned a rise in consumer confidence and with it GDP, the measure of national income, between July and September.