UK economy ‘will grind to a halt’ and then shrink, BCC forecasts

Business group downgrades its outlook for growth next year to 0.6% as inflation soars

Britain's economy will grind to a halt" before shrinking in the second half of this year as soaring inflation and tax rises take their toll, according to forecasts from one of the UK's leading business groups.

Consumers and business will pay a high price for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and persistent delays to supplies from China, said the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) as it downgraded its outlook for growth next year to 0.6%.