With food prices still surging, will anyone care about UK growth?

Shoppers will be much more concerned about stupendous price rises than recession forecasts, writes James Moore

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt welcomed the forecast in the IMF report (PA)

Jeremy Hunt must have grinned like a Cheshire cat at the latest IMF update.

His response, courtesy of a Treasury press release, was as quick as I’ve seen from a government department in some time: “Today’s IMF report shows a big upgrade to the UK’s growth forecast and credits our action to restore stability and tame inflation.

“It praises our childcare reforms, the Windsor Framework and business investment incentives. If we stick to the plan, the IMF confirm our long-term growth prospects are stronger than in Germany, France and Italy... but the job is not done yet.”