Biggest fall in output in 30 years
Updated on 24 April 2009
Today's dire figures, showing the UK economy declined by 1.9 per cent in the first three months of the year, take the Treasury by surprise.
It is the biggest fall in output for 30 years, casting doubt on Alistair Darling's hopes that the economy will start to recover by the end of the year.
Instead, the British economy is slumping deeper into recession than even the chancellor's gloomy budget predictions just two days ago.
