COVID-19: UK payrolls returns to pre-pandemic levels

Early estimates from payroll data suggest that in August the total number of employees is around the same level as before the pandemic, though our surveys show well over a million are still on furlough.

-Jonathan Athow, ONS deputy national statistician for economic statistics

“For much of 2021 shoppers have been shielded from price increases, with more being sold on promotion this year compared to 2020. But in the past month only 27.5% of spending was done on deals.

Other than the early days of lockdown last year, that is the lowest level recorded in the 15 years which we have tracked this data.”

– Fraser McKevitt, the head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar

The number of employees on payroll rose by 241,000 in August 2021; this took the total just past its pre-pandemic peak https://t.co/2pSt3xLMeC pic.twitter.com/DlI4iEsSrd

— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) September 14, 2021