The Newsroom

The latest news from across the world, and what it means for agencies.

» After the Budget: How much are stimulus measures shielding the economy?

It's two weeks now since the Chancellor's 2021 budget. Whilst the initial round of verdicts were published immediately following the event, now, two weeks on, there is deeper analysis on the wider impacts on the UK economy.

Initial verdicts:

Budget 2021: the verdict on Rishi Sunak’s plans | Gaby Hinsliff and others
The chancellor set out his roadmap for Britain’s economic recovery, but will it be enough? Our experts give their view

Read more [Guardian]

Rishi Sunak delivers spend now, tax later Budget to kickstart UK economy | Financial Times
Chancellor’s £65bn 2-year boost to tackle effects of pandemic to be followed by biggest tax rises in decades

Read more [Financial Times]

The sober view:

Budget 2021: EU border disruption to cause economic hit - and Brexit deal to see ‘4% shrinkage in long-term’
Sky News is an unrivalled, world class breaking news service with a spirit of innovation and a fresh approach to news broadcasting. As the UK’s first dedicated 24-hour news channel, Sky News has built a deserved reputation for being the first to break major news as well as offering insight and analy…

Read more [Sky News]

IoD calls for EU/Brexit co-operation after nearly 20% of members halt trade with the EU | Institute of Directors | IoD

Read more [Institute of Directors]

UK manufacturing hit by Brexit trade disruption | Financial Times
NGrowth in sector activity falls to a 9-month low in February, according to survey

Read more [Financial Times]

The cost of Brexit becomes apparent
Filling the GDP gap it has created will be hard

Read more [The Economist]

Exports from UK to EU down £5.6 billion as Brexit transition ends | ITV News
The 41% drop of exports to the EU was accompanied by dire GDP figures for January too, the economy shrank 2.9% as the UK’s Covid restrictions tightened.

Read more [ITV News]

» The UK's vaccine rollout is bringing hopes for economic recovery, but virus variants means continued vigilance is crucial

The vaccine rollout and the staged phase-out of pandemic healthcare protections like the national lockdown are bringing hopes of an economic recovery in the country and a return to some kind of normal.

People vaccinated up to and including 17 March 2021
First dose: 25,273,226
Second dose: 1,759,445
Source: GOV.UK

However, as the pandemic rolls on we are understanding the impact of living in a globalised world — other countries that have responded more slowly, if at all, to the pandemic are now hotbeds of virus mutation, amplifying the danger the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present to the world, the UK included.