BRITONS are the least optimistic they have been about the economy since 2008's financial crash, a new survey by pollster Ipsos Mori found yesterday.

The new poll, which was conducted between 13 and 16 March, shows that 69 per cent of people think that the economy will get worse in the next 12 months.

In recent weeks the UK's economy has been battered by the coronavirus outbreak.

The new figure is sharp increase on February, when 42 per cent of people harboured doubts.

Just 15 per cent of people think that it will get better, giving an economic confidence score of minus 54. At the height of 2008's financial crisis, Ipsos recorded that three-quarters of people expected the economy to worsen.

(c) 2020 City A.M., source Newspaper