The British economy had an unexpected contraction in January. It shrank by 0.1%.
This was primarily because of a decline in manufacturing in December, the national statistical office said.
Another contributor to the decline was negative growth in the construction sector, which had been hampered by poor and wet weather.
The decline will be a blow to Keir Starmer’s Labour government, particularly Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The British economy has been struggling to get any forward momentum in recent months.