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The UK economy grew slightly in November after it shrunk in both October and September, latest official figures show.
Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.1 per cent, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics.
It marked a rebound after two months of contraction – although the ONS still described the economy as “broadly flat” with no growth over the three-month period to November.
Thursday’s figure is also below the 0.2 per cent rise many economists had expected.
The ONS said November’s figure was helped by a rise in output across pubs, restaurants and IT companies. But there were also falls, particularly in the manufacturing sector, which shrunk by 0.3 per cent in November.
Responding to the data, chancellor Rachel Reeves said she will “fight every day to deliver” economic growth.
She said: “I am determined to go further and faster to kickstart economic growth, which is the number one priority in our Plan for Change.
“That means generating investment, driving reform and a relentless commitment to root out waste in public spending, and today I will be pressing regulators on what more they can do to deliver growth.
“After 14 years of economic stagnation, this government’s number one mission is to grow our economy. I will fight every day to deliver that growth and put more money into working people’s pockets.”
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride called the latest figures “disappointing”. He said: “The chancellor seems content with burying her head in the sand, but this is a crisis made in Downing Street. We need an urgent change of course.”
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said the lack og growth in the UK economy meant less money in families’ pockets and public services without the funding.
She said: “After years of the Conservatives’ economic vandalism, the public was crying out for change but this new government is falling well short of fixing this mess.
“Rachel Reeves needs to see sense and scrap her foolish jobs tax, and pursue a real strategy for growth like fixing our broken trade relationship with our European partners and replacing the broken business rates system.”
This is a breaking news story – more to follow
