In 2008 fuel rises were followed by a near collapse of all of our banks. To stop this happening the government borrowed lots of money and lent it to the banks. By 2009 the banks had become more careful lending money and so did everyone else. As a result, fewer homes and goods were bought, fewer people visited cinemas and restaurants etc., and so factories, shops and other places needed fewer people to work in them. The number without work began to rise higher and higher.
