PwC: UK economy could fall from fifth to seventh in global rankings in 2019

Both India and France are likely to surpass the UK in 2019, the global accountancy firm said, knocking it from fifth to seventh place in the global table.

While the UK and France have regularly switched places owing to similar levels of development and roughly equal populations, India’s climb up the rankings is likely to be permanent.

PwC projects real GDP growth of 1.6 per cent for the UK, 1.7 per cent for France and 7.6 per cent for India in 2019.

Mike Jakeman, senior economist at PwC, said: “India is the fastest growing large economy in the world, with an enormous population, favourable demographics and high catch-up potential due to low initial GDP per head. It is all but certain to continue to rise in the global GDP league table in the coming decades.

“The UK and France have regularly alternated in having the larger economy, but subdued growth in the UK in 2018 and again in 2019 is likely to tip the balance in France’s favour. The relative strength of the euro against the pound is an important factor here. ”

The global economy as a whole is expected to slow in 2019, with the pick up in growth of most major economies seen between the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2018 now over. In the US, the boost from fiscal stimulus is expected to fade, higher interest rates are likely to dampen consumer spending and a strong dollar will continue to drag on net exports. PwC projects US growth will moderate from an estimated 2.8% in 2018 to around 2.3% in 2019.

Growth in China will also slow relative to 2018. Although the government will try to ensure that the slowdown is minimal, the impact of US tariffs and the need to control debt levels are likely to create a modest deceleration in growth in 2019.

Labour markets in advanced economies are expected to continue to tighten, with unemployment falling further even if job creation slows. This would push up wages, but cause problems for businesses looking to fill talent shortages. In 2019 PwC predicts unemployment will fall a little further in the US and Germany, where the rates of job creation have remained strong.

Barret Kupelian, senior economist at PwC, said: “Last year, the big economic news was centred around advanced economies creating around 4.5 million jobs.

“We expect this trend to gradually moderate in 2019 with some economies like the US, Canada and Germany hitting structural floors in their unemployment rates, and wage growth starting to gradually pick up. Assuming an orderly Brexit, we expect the UK to also see unemployment flattening off, though a disorderly Brexit could lead to a marked rise of unemployment.”