Britain’s zombie companies won’t be reanimated by Sunak’s shocks

The UK's long-running productivity problems are not being solved - but they must be if the economy is to get greener

Rishi Sunak says his tax and spending plans, outlined in the budget, will boost the outlook for private sector jobs, wages and growth. The Bank of England's most recent review of the economy begs to differ.

It might appear that the recovery is strong and that companies can barely keep pace with customer demand. Sadly, appearances can be deceptive. If anything, the archetypal mainstream UK business - the one that stays out of the limelight, doesn't attend award ceremonies or even bother to join the local chamber of commerce - will continue to look and behave like a zombie, staggering along with the same old equipment and outmoded technology.