Blow to Chancellor as UK economy shrank unexpectedly in May

The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product contracted by 0.1% in May, following a 0.3% drop in April (David Davies/PA) - (PA Wire)

The UK economy contracted unexpectedly in May, marking the second month in a row of falling output and heaping further pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.1% in May, following a 0.3% drop in April.