Decline of UK economy worsens

The UK economy shrank by 1.9% in the first three months of 2009, the sharpest fall in 30 years.

The fall in GDP was much worse than expected and means it has now shrunk three quarters in a row, showing the UK is still in deep recession.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper said the government stood by its forecast of a drop of 3.5% for the whole year, and she believed "the economy will start to recover towards the end of this year".