UK GDP flat in October

Source: Xinhua | 2019-12-11

UK gross domestic product (GDP) stayed flat in October, with growth in services and production offset by a significant fall in construction, according to a survey released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday.

Data showed that monthly growth of services and production in October increased by 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, construction fell 2.3 percent, mainly driven by a drop in new private housing and infrastructure.

In the three months to October, UK GDP also stood flat, compared with the period between May and July.

Figures showed the services sector was the only positive contributor to GDP growth in the three months to October, rising by 0.2 percent. But output in both production and construction contracted, losing by 0.7 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.

An ONS spokesperson said: "The UK economy saw no growth in the latest three months. There were increases across the services sector, offset by falls in manufacturing with factories continuing the weak performance seen since April."

"Construction also declined across the last three months with a notable drop in house building and infrastructure in October," the spokesperson added.