UK Economy Shrank in October Threatening Rishi Sunak’s Growth Pledge

A wide-ranging slump across the economy comes as bad news for Rishi Sunak who has pledged to grow the economy this year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosts a press conference inside the Downing Street Briefing Room in central London, on Dec. 7, 2023. James Manning/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The UK economy flatlined in the three months leading up to October and contracted by 0.3 percent in October, official data shows.

In a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who at the beginning of the year pledged to grow the economy, saw contractions across all three main sectors.