Gross domestic product grew by 0.5%
between July and September, the
Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, down from 0.7% in the second
quarter.
The rate was also lower than the
0.6% growth predicted by many analysts.
Part of the slowdown was due to the
biggest fall in construction output in three years, a drop of 2.2%.
The service sector, the biggest part
of the economy, grew by 0.7%.
However, output in the manufacturing
sector declined by 0.3%.
"The slowdown is being led by
the manufacturing sector, which is seeing a renewed recession as output has now
fallen for three consecutive quarters, suffering a 0.3% decline in the three
months to September," said Chris Williamson, chief economist at research
firm Markit.
"Manufacturing output has so
far fallen 0.9% this year. Producers are struggling as weak demand in many
overseas markets
, notably
China and other emerging nations, is being exacerbated by the appreciation of
sterling."
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