The UK economy stalled in February 2023 with zero growth in GDP, new figures show.
It followed surprise growth of 0.4% in January and confirmation that the economy avoided recession in the second half of 2022, with growth of 0.1% in the last three months of the year.
A rise in construction activity in February was offset by the effects of strikes by public sector workers and low energy consumption, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Darren Morgan, ONS director of economic statistics, said that the construction sector grew by grew 2.4% in February, after falling by 1.7% in January, as more repair work took place.
There was also a boost from retailing, with many shops having “a buoyant month”.
The biggest factor holding back growth in February was strike action by teachers and civil servants. There was also a drop in the use of electricity and gas due to unseasonably mild weather, and the economy remained under pressure from high energy prices and rising interest rates.
Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that the UK is on track to be worst-performing major economy this year, shrinking by 0.3% in 2023.
