The UK economy is expected to enter a slight slowdown, according to new data, as the debate continues about the inheritance left by the Conservatives.
A host of business sector surveys, including the newly published purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for August, suggest that economic growth is likely to come in at 0.3 to 0.4 per cent in the three months from July. This would be slightly down on the rates of 0.7 per cent and 0.6 per cent recorded in the first and second quarters.
The acceleration earlier this year made the UK the fastest-growing economy in the G7 in the first half of the year, with output boosted by a growing services sector, greater government spending and lower inflation.
It also appeared to undermine
