UK to be worst-performing economy in G7 this year, IMF warns
The IndependentBritain is on course for the worst economic performance of any country in the G7, the International Monetary Fund has predicted, as it warned of more turmoil in a “fragile” global financial system. “Notably, emerging market and developing economies are already powering ahead in many cases, with growth rates jumping from 2.8 per cent in 2022 to 4.5 per cent this year,” the IMF said. “But core inflation, excluding the volatile energy and food components, has not yet peaked in many countries.” The IMF is now forecasting a global real GDP growth rate of 2.8 per cent in 2023 and 3.0 per cent in 2024, marking a sharp slowdown from 3.4 per cent growth in 2022. He said that the short-term shock of soaring energy prices was partially to blame, given the UK’s “particular dependence” on energy imports, but added: “Brexit is clearly a big issue for us, and the uncertainty caused by last autumn has been an issue for us.” Mr Johnson also said that a lack of investment in long-term infrastructure projects that could potentially have boosted growth was “absolutely” holding Britain back. Sir John, who campaigned against the government’s decision to hike corporation tax this month from 19 per cent to 25 per cent, said the increase “is going to damage growth and investment here”.