The warm weather might be hitting British Gas profits, but it hasn't stopped the British economy from reaching its highest point since 2019. The country's GDP per person just hit £33,121, marking the end of a long journey back from the economic wreckage of the early 2020s.

In 2019, before anyone had heard of COVID-19, Britain's economic output per person stood at £33,064. Then came the pandemic. By 2021, we'd crashed to £31,442 per person. That's £1,600 less for every man, woman, and child in the country. The recovery has been slow, uneven, and painful.

2022 brought the first signs of life. GDP per person climbed to £32,469, still well below pre-pandemic levels but moving in the right direction. The cost-of-living crisis was biting hard, but the economy was grinding back to life. Businesses reopened, workers returned, and the machinery of commerce slowly cranked back into gear.

2023 told a different story. Growth stalled. GDP per person actually fell slightly to £32,400, a reminder that economic recovery isn't a straight line. Inflation was still raging, interest rates were climbing, and many families were choosing between heating and eating. The numbers reflected what people felt in their daily lives.

2024 saw cautious progress. GDP per person edged up to £32,591, still short of where we were before the pandemic but getting closer. Inflation was finally cooling, wages were starting to catch up, and consumer confidence was slowly returning. But we weren't there yet.

Now, in 2025, we've finally crossed that line. At £33,121 per person, Britain's economic output is higher than it was before COVID struck. It's taken nearly four years to get back to where we started, but we're finally here.

This isn't just an abstract number. It represents the productive capacity of the entire country divided by everyone who lives here. When this figure rises, it means the average British worker is generating more economic value, creating the foundation for higher wages, better public services, and improved living standards.

The timing is significant. While energy companies struggle with unusually warm weather hurting their heating bills business, and higher taxes are helping the government reach record surpluses, the broader economy is showing real resilience.

The journey from £31,442 to £33,121 represents more than just numbers recovering. It's the story of a country that took a massive economic hit and slowly, methodically, built its way back. (Source: Office for National Statistics, GDP quarterly estimate)