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Economic growth dips in November, ending six months of increases
UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell 2.6% in November as the second national lockdown was implemented, ending the six month run of consecutive increases, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
November GDP fell back to 8.5% below the levels seen in February 2020 compared with 6.1% below in October 2020.
On a quarterly comparison, GDP grew 4.1% in the three months to November 2020, down from 10.5% in the three months to October, reflecting the easing of lockdown measures earlier in the year.
In the 12 months to November 2020, GDP fell 8.9%, compared with an annual decline of 6.8% to October.
The ONS noted that the services sector was the main drag on output, falling 3.4% as a result of curbs on activity as the government announced further lockdown measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The largest contributor to this fall was accommodation and food service activities, followed by wholesale and retail trade, arts, entertainment and recreation. These sectors accounted for nearly 80% of the fall in services.
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All in all, the services sector is now 9.9% below the level of February 2020.
Construction and manufacturing were the only sectors to see growth in the month, reporting a 1.9% and 0.7% increase respectively.
Construction recorded its seventh month of consecutive growth, showing it was largely unaffected by the lockdown restrictions.
The ONS said the monthly growth was driven by increases in both infrastructure (9.6%) and private new housing (4.7%) meaning both sectors are above their pre-pandemic February 2020 levels at 9.1% and 4.2% respectively.
The largest contribution to manufacturing came from the motor vehicles industry, which is now 1.3% above its February pre-pandemic level.
Ayush Ansal, chief investment officer at Crimson Black Capital, said: “The fall in GDP in November wasn’t quite as bad as some had expected given the fact the economic shutters had once again been pulled down in England.
“Unsurprisingly, the sectors dragging down the economy included retail, food services, accommodation, entertainment and the arts, all of which were among the hardest hit.
“If Spring’s economic collapse sank a sabre-tooth fang into the GDP graph, it’s clear there are plenty more sharp teeth to come as the economy stop-starts.
“Markets have priced in a jagged recovery and are now looking along the curve to how the economy reacts to mass vaccination. All eyes now are on the future rather than the past.”