UK home-working rises to highest since June on COVID lockdown

LONDON (Reuters) – The proportion of British workers working solely from home rose to 36% in the week to Jan. 31, its highest since June when the country was emerging from its first coronavirus lockdown and up from 34% the week before, official figures showed.

Spending on debit and credit cards, as measured via Bank of England CHAPS payment data, was 32% below its level in February 2020 versus a 35% shortfall a week earlier, the Office for National Statistics said on Thursday.

The Bank of England is due to release new quarterly economic forecasts at 1200 GMT.

(Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by William Schomberg)