The UK economy contracted by 0.1% in January, dealing a blow to Rachel Reeves before the spring statement later this month.

In a surprise to City economists, who expected 0.1% growth in January, the Office for National Statistics data showed the services sector failed to offset a decline in the industrial sector and maintain growth from the previous month.

Manufacturing output fell by 1.1% in January 2025, reversing a spurt of 0.7% in December last year. Construction was another drag on the economy after poor winter weather held back housebuilders.

The ONS said GDP was estimated to have grown by 0.2% in the three months to January 2025, compared with the three months to October 2024, as a result of the growth in the services sector.

  • NKBTN@feddit.uk
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    1 day ago

    “The economy didn’t grow? Ok, let’s give some more money to the military industrial complex, that’ll fix it”

  • blackn1ght@feddit.uk
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    2 days ago

    I feel like every month there’s a “UK economy unexpectedly (shrunk|grew) by 0.1% in ${previousMonth}” article.

    • theo@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Always followed by “${currentChancellor} (under pressure|glad) as the economy…”, in the first sentence or somehow incorporated into the headline depending on the bias of the publication.

  • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
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    2 days ago

    Gutting of the UK middle class happened faster than what US owners were able to pull off.

    It seems these parasites get off on pushing people into poverty

  • theskyisfalling@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    Poor winter weather? I dunno about the country as a whole but it has been milder and drier this winter where I am than I can remember, just very windy at points.

    Did they need more rain or frost to help complete their shitty housing projects?