UK growth slower than expected in third quarter

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PA Media A woman wearing a dark work shirt and red protective gloves operating machinery on an industrial assembly line. The setting appears to be a modern factory with various mechanical components, tools, and equipment visible, including a yellow machine frame and overhead robotic arms. PA Media

The UK economy grew by a weaker-than-expected 0.1% in the July-to-September period, official figures show.

While the service sector was the main driver of growth in the quarter, the Office for National Statistics said the production sector contracted, led by weakness in manufacturing.

The economy shrank by 0.1% in the month of September, when the ONS said there was a "marked" fall in car production following the impact of the cyber attack on JLR.

The growth figures are the last to be released ahead of the Budget later this month, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves is widely expected to raise taxes in order to meet her self-imposed borrowing rules.

Ahead of Thursday's figures, analysts had expected growth for the third quarter to be 0.2%.

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