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Around two-thirds of those questioned by the newspaper said the government did not have a credible policy for rejuvenating the public finances.
Most of the 67 economists interviewed said they thought unemployment was likely to increase to three million next year.
Sir Howard Davies, director of the London School of Economics, commented: " I do not expect to see any significant economic recovery in 2009. I expect the British economy to bump along the bottom, at best.
Meanwhile, separate research by British Chambers of Commerce found that 25,000 people are likely to go bankrupt in 2009 as the economy continues to shrink.
