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UK set to avoid recession despite poor August UK set to avoid recession despite poor August
(32 minutes later)
The UK's economy is expected to avoid a recession despite new figures showing a surprise contraction in August. The UK's economy is expected to avoid a recession after showing better-than-expected growth in the three months to the end of August.
The 0.3% three-month rise came despite a contraction during August itself.
The economy shrank by 0.1% during the month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, but growth in July was revised upwards to 0.4%.The economy shrank by 0.1% during the month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, but growth in July was revised upwards to 0.4%.
In the three months to the end of August the economy grew 0.3%, indicating a recession can be avoided.
The ONS said weakness in the manufacturing sector was offset by buoyant TV and film production.The ONS said weakness in the manufacturing sector was offset by buoyant TV and film production.
"Services provided [the] majority of the growth over the three months, with production and manufacturing falling back," said Rob Kent-Smith, head of GDP at the ONS."Services provided [the] majority of the growth over the three months, with production and manufacturing falling back," said Rob Kent-Smith, head of GDP at the ONS.
The growth figures are being watched closely for signs of recession - defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction - after the economy shrank in the second quarter for the first time since 2012.The growth figures are being watched closely for signs of recession - defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction - after the economy shrank in the second quarter for the first time since 2012.
The next quarter runs until the end of October so the August data is the second month in the third quarter. The next quarter runs until the end of September so the August data is the second month in the third quarter.
The contraction during August is not, however, expected to indicate a recession is looming.The contraction during August is not, however, expected to indicate a recession is looming.
Reuters reported that the ONS said the economy would have to contract by an unusually large 1.5% in September for this happen. The ONS said the economy would have to contract by an unusually large 1.5% in September for this happen.
"The fact that growth in July was revised up from 0.3% month-on-month to 0.4% means fears that the economy is already in recession have been banished," said Andrew Wishart, UK economist at Capital Economics. Economists pointed to the move by the ONS to revise up growth in July from the original reading of 0.3% as a key factor in their forecasts for the third quarter.
Andrew Wishart, UK economist at Capital Economics, said that it meant "fears that the economy is already in recession have been banished".
He now thinks the economy could grow by 0.4% in the third quarter, more than he had originally expected.He now thinks the economy could grow by 0.4% in the third quarter, more than he had originally expected.
'Disappointing' August
In August, the economy was dragged lower by a drop in manufacturing when car production was subdued.In August, the economy was dragged lower by a drop in manufacturing when car production was subdued.
Only the construction sector expanded during the month.
Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, described the contraction in August as "disappointing", with economists having expected zero growth during the month.
But, he said, the figures "come on the heels of a stronger than previously thought July, leaving the economy on course to expand in the third quarter, barring any slump in September".
Did The Crown save the UK from recession?
TV and film production enabled GDP to grow by 0.3% in the three months to August, more than compensating for activity languishing across the board in that month alone.
But that is not sufficient reason to cheer.
As the Bank of England has highlighted, growth has lost momentum over the past year and the economy is limping rather than flying.
Part of this is undoubtedly Brexit related - with business investment suffering amidst the prolonged uncertainty. A failure of firms to spend on factories and machines will have long-reaching implications. This is one reason why economists are pulling down their forecasts for next year too.
But it is also unhelpful that growth in some of our biggest trading partners, such as Germany, has run into problems. The bright spot remains job creation - but that too could falter.
This sluggishness ignited a mood shift among policymakers. Even those members of the Bank's interest rate panel who previously favoured a rise in the cost of borrowing now think their next move could be a cut - deal or no deal.
The question for them, grappling with as much uncertainty as the rest of us, is when.