Growth statistics remain mixed

The UK economy grew at an upwardly revised rate of 0.6 per cent between July and September, but the estimate for gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter was slashed to zero per cent from 0.1 per cent, the Office for National Statistics reported yesterday.

Meanwhile, the United States economy grew more slowly in the third quarter than previously estimated but economists said the world’s largest economy is set to record a strong finish to the year.

Back in Britain, analysts said the UK was still teetering on the brink of recession, despite the improved third-quarter figures, which were revised up from a previous estimate of 0.5 per cent, as indicators point towards a slowdown as the new year approaches.

The overall picture at home was broadly unchanged by the revised figures as the country still faces considerable headwinds in the new year, notably from the eurozone, the UK’s biggest trade partner, which is buckling under the pressure of its crippling debt crisis.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at financial services information company Markit, said: “The underlying trend is very clearly one of an economy that is struggling in the face of what seems to be an ever-growing list of headwinds.”

Manufacturing, services and trade surveys have been mixed in the final quarter of the year, prompting fears the UK is heading for a double-dip recession.

The tax and spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, recently slashed official forecasts for growth following a similar downbeat assessment of the economy from the Bank of England.

The services sector, which makes up some 75 per cent of the total economy, grew at 0.7 per cent in the third quarter, up from a previous estimate of 0.6 per cent.

Agriculture grew at 0.5 per cent in the third quarter while construction was ahead 0.3 per cent.

But industrial production growth was revised down once again to 0.2 per cent from 0.4 per cent, which partially offset improvements in the stronger sectors.

The squeeze on household spending was underlined by figures revealing real disposable income growth slowed to 0.3 per cent in the third quarter from 1.3 per cent the previous three months.

Government spending was also revised down to 0.2 per cent from 0.9 per cent – which corresponds more closely with Chancellor George Osborne’s programme of deficit-busting spending cuts.

Looking back to the second quarter, growth in the services sector was revised down to 0.1 per cent from 0.2 per cent.

Labour Treasury spokeswoman Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West, said: “These revised figures show an unchanged picture over the last year. The British economy has been flatlining over the last 12 months, when we need strong growth to get unemployment and the deficit down.”

There is some hope that the improved outlook for the US will help to steer the global economy to safer ground, although America is also threatened by the potential fallout from a euro meltdown.

The US government now estimates that consumer spending grew at a 1.7 per cent annual rate last summer, instead of 2.3 per cent. The updated estimate reflects data showing less spending on hospitals.

The US third quarter figures were lower than estimated but were still the best quarterly figures this year, following growth of 1.3 per cent in the second quarter.

The upturn comes as President Barack Obama faces a re-election vote in less than a year.