The UK economy grew by just 0.4% in October as the recovery from the coronavirus crisis slowed even before latest lockdown measures.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed GDP expanded for the sixth month in a row but remained 7.9% below its February pre-pandemic level.
Britain experienced its steepest recession on record earlier this year as coronavirus restrictions crushed economic activity.
It is widely expected to go into reverse again in the current fourth quarter after rules were tightened again.
Britain's fiscal watchdog expects a recovery in 2021 but has warned this will be held back if the Brexit transition period ends without a deal with the EU.
The pace of growth in October was down from 1.1% in September and was the weakest it has been since the economy started its recovery from the slump.
GDP is expected to have shrunk again in November pulling the economy into a double-dip downturn.
In response to the latest figures, chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "I know people are worried about the winter months, but we will continue to support people through our Plan For Jobs to ensure nobody is left without hope or opportunity."
The ONS said October's data came against a "backdrop of further national measures" introduced in response to a second wave of COVID-19.
Growth in the services sector - which represents four-fifths of economic output - ground to a near-standstill at 0.2% as restrictions including a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants took effect.
However manufacturing and construction proved more resilient, growing by 1.7% and 1%.
Jonathan Athow, ONS deputy national statistician for economic statistics, said it meant that "the economy overall grew only modestly".
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts the economy to shrink by 11.3% this year - its biggest decline for more than 300 years - before growing by 5.5% in 2021.
However the OBR expects a no-deal Brexit to knock two percentage points off growth while Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey thinks the long-term economic impact of such an outcome would be bigger than that of the pandemic.
Ruth Gregory, senior UK economist at Capital Economics, said: "The economy continued to grow in October, but at a snail's pace.
"And with the COVID-19 restrictions likely to remain in place for some time, the economy is in for a difficult few months yet.
"But scope for a decent 'vaccine bounce' next year should allow the economy to regain its pre-pandemic level in early 2022."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiUGh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2NvdmlkLTE5LWdkcC1ncm93dGgtc2xvd2VkLXRvLTAtNC1pbi1vY3RvYmVyLTEyMTU2NjE10gFUaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2NvdmlkLTE5LWdkcC1ncm93dGgtc2xvd2VkLXRvLTAtNC1pbi1vY3RvYmVyLTEyMTU2NjE1?oc=5
2020-12-10 08:15:00Z
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