Economics

U.K. Productivity Rises as Lockdowns Shut Bars and Restaurants

  • Sectors able to keep operating generated more per hour worked
  • Volatility clouds the debate over U.K.’s lagging productivity.

Commuters walk past a railway station in London. 

Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast.

U.K. productivity has proved unexpectedly resilient during the pandemic, with more than a year of lockdowns and restrictions forcing the closure of businesses with relatively low levels of hourly output.