Coronavirus (COVID-19) roundup: 30 June 2020

ONS have published their national accounts, sector accounts and balance of payments for Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2020, including a revised estimate of GDP.

They have also published the latest weekly deaths registrations in England and Wales, up to 19 June 2020.

Some of the main points include:

• UK GDP fell by 2.2% in Quarter 1 2020, revised downwards by 0.2 percentage points from the first quarterly estimate; this is now the joint largest fall since Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 1979

• Banks and other monetary financial institutions (MFIs) recorded their highest rise ever in short-term loans of £304.8 billion in January to March, suggesting there has been a “dash for cash”

• The households’ saving ratio increased to 8.6% in the first quarter, compared with 6.6% in the previous quarter, as households reduced their total consumption spending

• Imports and exports decreased to their lowest levels since Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2016 and Quarter 1 2018 respectively, as countries introduced lockdowns 

• There were 49,371 deaths involving COVID-19 registered up to 19 June 2020 (27,185 men and 22,186 women)

• The total number of deaths in the week ending 19 June 2020 was 9,339, the lowest of the year to date

• The number of deaths was below the five-year average for the first time since the week ending 13 March (the first week in which COVID-19 deaths were registered)

Read the ONS roundup