Pings, petrol panic and PCR chaos: the business year in review

From lockdowns and pingdemics' to petrol panic and supply chain chaos, the last 12 months have been a bumpy ride

As dawn broke on the first morning of 2021, dark storm clouds hung over Britain's economic landscape. Hospitality, aviation and tourism had been at a standstill for much of the previous year, while high street retail had fared only a little better.

A winter Covid-19 surge heralded yet another punishing lockdown and, as if that wasn't enough, Brexit was crimping Britain's international trade. Consumer confidence languished at rock bottom with no end to the pandemic in sight.