How the UK downturn hurts

As the global financial turmoil rumbles on, countries around the world are struggling.

The International Monetary Fund predicts that the UK will be hit hardest hit by the downturn caused by the credit crunch. The trendline is already disturbing, showing that the UK economy contracted 0.5 per cent between July and September.

In this graphic we take a look at the local effects of the global slowdown. We show you how the different regions of the UK are coping, highlighting the declines in house prices, the rise in unemployment and the escalating numbers of corporate insolvencies.