Aug 18 (Lagos) - It is official, the UK economy has entered a recession for the first time in 11 years.
Economic growth during the second quarter was abysmal, plunging 20.4% after a 2.2% fall in the first three months of 2020. This was the largest recession on record and worst GDP seen in Western Europe. To rub salt into the wound, data released earlier in the week revealed an estimated one million jobs had already been erased during the coronavirus induced lockdown.
The current recession in the United Kingdom will certainly have negative impacts on bilateral trade between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. A possible spillover effect on Nigeria amid a reduction in trade and investment could enforce further pressure on the country which already entangled in a fierce battle against COVID-19.
As we move deeper into the third quarter of 2020, the outlook for Nigeria will remain influenced by not only the coronavirus developments but Oil prices and implementation of the revised 2020 budget of N 10.81 trillion.
Given how the economic calendar for Nigeria is void of Tier 1 economic releases this week, expect the Naira to be impacted by Dollar shortages and local stocks to remain influenced by domestic risks.
Source -
written by Lukman Otunuga (PHOTO), Senior Research Analyst at FXTM.
reporting for easykobo.com on Tuesday, Aug 18 2020 from Lagos, Nigeria