Surveys reveal return to growth in March, boosting hopes the Covid vaccine will bring rapid recovery
Britain’s economy returned to growth in March as businesses stepped up preparations for the easing of lockdown, lifting optimism in the services sector to the highest level since 2004.
Reflecting hopes that the Covid vaccine will enable a rapid economic recovery this summer, surveys from IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (Cips) showed business activity rose at the fastest rate in seven months.