Revised data from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the British economy suffered its largest contraction in 300 years when the pandemic hit in 2020, falling by 11%. The previous measure had come in at a 9.3% decline.

This was the largest fall in output since the ONS started keeping records, and the largest fall in GDP since 1709, when the Great Frost caused the economy to shrink by 13.4%, according to Bank of England historical data.

The revision came in response to new data emerging regarding the effect the pandemic had on healthcare and individual retailers.

ONS analyst Craig McLaren explained, “The health service faced higher costs than we initially estimated, meaning its overall contribution to the economy was lower.” He added that statisticians also had to revise the data on retailers as it emerged they had faced higher costs.

The British economy largely recovered in 2021, however so far this year, inflation has increasingly battered the economy, and analysts now fear a recession may be inevitable before the end of the year.

The ONS will update the growth figures for 2021 and the first half of 2022 in September. Revisions are routine whenever new data is discovered.