Iran Press/America: The US economy suffered its worst annual decline for 74 years in 2020 as the pandemic crushed business activity and pushed millions of Americans out of work, official figures have shown.
According to US media outlets, Gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 3.5%, the biggest fall since 1946 when America was demobilizing after the Second World War.
The output is now recovering after the depths of the crisis earlier in the year but remains below pre-pandemic levels and the bounce-back slowed significantly in the final quarter of 2020 amid a resurgence in cases.
Prospects for the world's biggest economy look likely to hinge on the distribution of vaccines to fight the virus.
The stark GDP data underscored the need for US legislators to pass new administration under Joe Biden's $1.9trn stimulus package, according to a White House advisor.
Nearly $3trn in aid has been distributed already with a further $900bn approved in December under former US President Donald Trump. 219
