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UK OECD Economic Outlook Dec 2021
UK OECD Economic Outlook Dec 2021
UK OECD Economic Outlook Dec 2021
United Kingdom
The economy is recovering and expected to reach pre-crisis levels at the beginning of 2022. Output is
projected to rise by 6.9% in 2021, with growth moderating to 4.7% in 2022 and 2.1% in 2023. Consumption
is the main driver of growth during the projection period. Business investment will improve but continues to
be held back by uncertainty. Increased border costs following the exit from the EU Single Market are
weighing on imports and exports. Unemployment will continue to decline. Inflation will keep increasing due
to higher energy and commodity prices and continuing supply shortages. It is expected to peak at 4.9% in
the first half of 2022 and then fall back towards the 2% target by the end of 2023.
Monetary policy should tighten gradually to bring inflation back to target over the medium term, as price
pressures show signs of becoming persistent. Fiscal policy should continue to support the economy and
become more targeted to aid economic restructuring. Boosting training and career counselling programmes
can facilitate economic reallocation and ease job transitions. Government programmes should focus on
providing certainty on long-term issues such as the transition to net zero in order to support investment. The
effects from phasing out fiscal support measures on businesses and households should be closely
monitored, in the context of planned tax increases, to avoid derailing the recovery.
United Kingdom
Consumption will drive the recovery The labour market is tightening
Index 2019Q4 = 100, s.a. Thousands Thousands
110 1400 2800
Real GDP
Real private consumption ← All vacancies
105 1200 2400
Number of unemployed people →
95 800 1600
90 600 1200
85 400 800
80 200 400
75 0 0 0
2020 2021 2022 2023 2019 2020 2021
Source: OECD Economic Outlook 110 database; and ONS labour market statistics.
StatLink 2 https://stat.link/2j3scy
OECD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, VOLUME 2021 ISSUE 2: PRELIMINARY VERSION © OECD 2021
216
United Kingdom 2
The surge in inflation is projected to moderate The fiscal balance is set to improve gradually
Y-o-y % changes % of GDP % of GDP
5 0 125
Headline inflation (CPIH)
Core inflation¹
4 -3 100
3 -6 75
2 -9 50
0 0 -15 0
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
1. Harmonised Consumer Price Index excluding food, energy, alcohol and tobacco.
2. General government net financial liabilities.
Source: OECD Economic Outlook 110 database.
StatLink 2 https://stat.link/p7uavi
OECD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, VOLUME 2021 ISSUE 2: PRELIMINARY VERSION © OECD 2021
217
Output rose strongly in the first half of 2021 as the economy gradually reopened, but high frequency data
indicate a slowing of the economy due to supply and labour shortages. GDP growth slowed to 1.3% in the
third quarter of 2021. Hospitality services and events benefited particularly from the lifting of COVID-19
restrictions in England. Production output contributed positively to growth in the third quarter, whereas the
construction sector contracted. The labour market has rebounded strongly, with vacancies reaching a
record high level of almost 1.2 million in September. Employment is on the rise, while unemployment has
been decreasing since January. Labour shortages are emerging in sectors particularly affected by the
pandemic and in which EU-born migrants were also over-represented, such as accommodation and food
services, wholesale and retail trade and transport and logistics. Average regular pay excluding bonuses
increased by 6% between June and August 2021, but according to the Bank of England underlying wage
growth is estimated to be more modest. A surge in energy prices, in combination with supply and labour
shortages that are exacerbated by increased trade and immigration restrictions following the exit from the
EU Single Market, have pushed inflation well above the 2% target, to 4.2% in October. Inflation
expectations in October for the year ahead also edged up reaching to 4.4%.
OECD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, VOLUME 2021 ISSUE 2: PRELIMINARY VERSION © OECD 2021
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The projection is surrounded by risks. Lingering public health concerns and higher-than-expected goods
and energy prices could weigh on consumption. A prolonged period of acute supply and labour shortages
could slow down the recovery by forcing firms into a more permanent reduction in their operating capacity.
Higher inflation expectations could lead to an earlier-than-expected increase of the policy rate. A worsening
trade relationship with the European Union could also weigh on the economic outlook in the medium term.
Upside risks include a faster-than-expected relocation of workers from the ended furlough scheme into
available job vacancies.
Monetary policy should tighten amidst clear signs of persistent price pressures. Fiscal policy should remain
supportive. Boosting investment in skills, retraining and career counselling programmes is a welcome step
as it can support the restructuring of the economy. Reducing out-of-pocket costs of childcare further would
help parents, notably mothers, to increase hours in paid employment and training. The government can
also stimulate the recovery by being clear about its approach to the transition to a net zero economy, and
policy decisions can provide the needed certainty for businesses to increase investment. In addition, public
investment should focus on improving residential heating and on necessary infrastructure to reach the
UK’s ambitious carbon emission objectives, such as infrastructure to electrify new economic sectors and
to make the electricity system more suitable for much higher volumes and variability of renewable energy.
OECD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, VOLUME 2021 ISSUE 2: PRELIMINARY VERSION © OECD 2021