The UK economy contracted by 0.1% in October, according to official figures.
The fall in gross domestic product (GDP) comes after a similar surprise drop of -0.1% in September and 0% growth in August.
Economists polled by the Reuters news agency had predicted that October GDP would grow by 0.1%.
It comes after commentators warned that consumer spending was likely to be restrained in October in the run-up to the budget, amid concerns about the impact of the chancellor’s measures on households.
The fall in growth was reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It found that growth on a rolling three-month basis, to October, was also -0.1%.
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