UK economic growth slows to weakest level since Covid rules eased in March

Firms battling stock and worker shortages with Brexit cited as exacerbating pandemic issues

Severe shortages of workers and supplies have dragged down economic growth in Britain to the weakest levels since pandemic restrictions were eased in March, according to a closely watched business survey.

The latest snapshot from IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (Cips) showed that growth in private sector output slowed in August as firms battled with severe shortages while costs rose at the fastest pace since the late 1990s.