The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published “Coronavirus: a year like no other”. A year on from the first government instructions to significantly limit social contact because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, ONS look at what the data tells us about these extraordinary 12 months and the way our lives have changed. The data shows the stark reality of deaths and hospitalisations resulting from the pandemic.

The figures also show annual average hours worked dropped significantly in lockdown which, when you consider up to 8.9 million people on furlough and many businesses unable to trade as normal during lockdown, was unsurprising. The average number of hours worked in the UK per person per week fell to 25.9 in April to June 2020, compared with 32.3 in the same three months of 2019. This was the lowest since January to March 2008, when average weekly working hours were 30.9 per person.

The report continues to highlight that for many industries, the fall in job vacancies during 2020 was bigger than the 2008 economic downturn. These figures are expected, given the country was in lockdown for considerable parts of the year, but interestingly, it highlights average house prices increased whilst the economy shrank.  Estate agents, Rightmove, recently highlighted that the pandemic has changed the type of property and location many of us want to live in.  Cornwall has overtaken London this year as the most searched for location, Devon is third, and Dorset has risen to 10th.

Whether the search patterns in property are a short term escape from the pandemic or a longer term trend, only time will tell. What is clear is we must all be patient, continue to observe the lockdown rules and hope the vaccination programme leads us out of the current situation and into a better future.