UK avoids recession despite annual growth reaching decade low

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.3% in the quarter from July to September, following a 0.2% fall in the second quarter of 2019. But the ONS data showed that when compared with the same quarter in 2018, GDP grew by 1% - the lowest rate of growth since the first quarter of 2010. The ONS attributed the steady growth in the quarter to "a strong July" led by the services sector, while construction also performed well, it said. An ONS statistician said: "Manufacturing failed to grow as falls in many industries were offset by car production bouncing back following April shutdowns. ...