UKGDP figures announced by the ONS this morning has surprised  economists and indeed the Chancellor, all looking for  a small rise in GDP of around 0.1%,  and seeing it shrink by this amount. Instead.

 Consumer spending has decreased in a number of areas, potentially impacted by the persistent rain during the period, as the hospitality spend was generally lower, with fewer people eating out and braving the awful weather, bad enough to create hundreds of flood warnings and dissuade the general public from leaving the happy ish homestead. Labour are sure their policies are designed for growth but at this moment, this isn't reflected in current data and the worry is that following the Autumn budget, this downward trend in GDP, could continue.