UK growth virtually stalled in October, even before Omicron

UK growth virtually stalled in October, even before Omicron

Britain’s economic recovery had almost come to a halt even before the onset of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, official figures have shown.

The Office for National Statistics said in October – the first month after the end of the government’s furlough scheme – output grew by only 0.1%.

The slight monthly rise in gross domestic product was weaker than had been anticipated, with a poll of economists having expected growth of 0.4%. In September the economy grew by 0.6%.