Blow for Burnham as UK economy expected to have dipped in his first weeks as PM

• Economists from Investec and Pantheon Macroeconomics predict that official figures will show a 0.1 per cent contraction in UK GDP for July due to weak retail activity and higher household energy costs.
• The anticipated economic dip marks a downbeat start to the tenure of Andy Burnham , who assumed office as Prime Minister after replacing Keir Starmer in the second half of July.
• The expected monthly contraction follows a strong June performance where the economy expanded by 0.3 per cent, helping push overall growth across the second quarter to 0.4 per cent.
• Experts suggest a 13 per cent uplift in the energy price cap and a 0.5 per cent fall in retail sales constrained household budgets, offsetting earlier economic gains.
• While retail and wholesale output slipped, hospitality businesses benefited from a surge in accommodation and food services spending driven by hot weather and England's World Cup run.

IN FULL

UK economy likely to have shrunk in July as retail sales dip and energy bills soar