UK households are cutting back on spending at the fastest rate since 1980. This is【C1】______ to the worst economic slowdown in three decades.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics( ONS)showed【C2】______ spending fell by 1. 2% in the first three months of the year. People spent less on housing, household goods and services,【C3】______ those who went on holiday abroad also spent【C4】______ less.

Consumers tightened their belts【C5】______ the face of job losses, pay【C6】______ or freezes and sharply reduced City bonuses. The figures showed employees’【C7】______ falling by 1.1% in the quarter, the largest fall【C8】______ records began in 1955. Wages and salaries declined,【C9】______ lower bonus payments in the financial sector than normal, while【C10】______ also fell.

The data was【C11】______ as part of the ONS’s latest assessment of the UK economy, which【C12】______ that gross domestic product(GDP)shrank by 1.9% in the first quarter,【C13】______ sharpest decline since 1979. GDP stood 4.1%【C14】______ than a year ago, the biggest annual fall since 1980.

” The breakdown(分析)of first-quarter GDP gives a pretty【C15】______ picture of weakness right across the【C16】______ in the early months of this year,” said Jonathan Loynes of Capital Economics.

“With【C17】______ components like household spending and investment set to fall considerably further in【C18】______ to the weakness in the housing market, the labour market and bank lending, we【C19】______ unconvinced that recent ’ green shoots’(经济复苏迹象)will translate【C20】______ a return to decent growth next year. “

【C8】