In the three months to August, output fell by 0.8%, the biggest such decline since March 2013. Meanwhile, the UK trade deficit was £3.3bn in August, a narrowing of £1.2bn from July, it said. But the deficit was larger than expected and is set to weigh on growth, the ONS added.
An ONS official said the weak figures for construction in August may have been linked to wet weather during the month.
