UK just avoids recession as 'flatlining' economy raises concerns

Averaging out across the final three months of the year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that output was flat and saw zero growth. A technical recession is generally defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth, and if there had been negative overall growth in Q4 this would have signalled a recession, as the economy shrank by 0.3% in Q3. In reaction to the news, chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: "The fact the UK was the fastest growing economy in the G7 last year, as well as avoiding a recession, shows our economy is more resilient than many feared. "However, we...