Office for National Statistics

I remember when getting together with friends or colleagues and chatting about what they got up to at the weekend was more fun. At least one person would still be nursing a hangover, and the rest would have tales of wild nights out and lost shoes. Nowadays, we’re sharing tales of older relatives: the nursing is of another kind entirely, and the lost shoes part of a much sadder picture.

The economy grew fractionally in the second quarter of the year, but slowed compared to the period before, Office for National Statistics data showed.