Starmer under pressure over promise to drive growth as UK economy flatlines

The UK appears to be on course for two consecutive quarters of flatlining activity after a slump in business and consumer confidence. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

The UK economy flatlined between July and September and is on track to have stagnated over the entire second half of 2024, adding to pressure on Keir Starmer over his promise to reboot growth.

In an unexpected downgrade, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed growth in the third quarter was revised down to zero, below an initial estimate of 0.1% made last month.