UK avoids recession despite annual growth reaching decade low

Services sector behind 'strong July'

UK economic growth slowed to 1% year-on-year in the third quarter, its lowest rate in almost a decade, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.3% in the quarter from July to September, following a 0.2% fall in the second quarter of 2019. But the ONS data showed that when compared with the same quarter in 2018, GDP grew by 1% - the lowest rate of growth since the first quarter of 2010. UK one quarter of negative GDP away from recession The ONS attributed the steady growth in the quarter to "a strong July" led by the services sector, while construction also performed well, it said. An ONS statistician said: "Manufacturing failed to grow as falls in many industries were offset by car...