UK economy already flatlining before coronavirus, figures reveal

Stagnation in services sector and winter drop in construction activity hit GDP growth

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The British economy went into reverse in February as GDP growth declined by 0.1%, even before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic that brought the country to a halt.

Analysts said the figures would bear little relation to those for March, which were likely to show a much steeper fall in activity and the economy entering a deep recession. On a three-month rolling basis, the economy grew by 0.1% between December and February.

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