UK economy flatlines in third quarter amid high interest rates

Zero growth also underlines impact of inflation on consumer spending and business activity

• Analysis: UK economy continues sideways drift with no sign of uplift

The UK economy flatlined between July and September, compared with the previous three months, as the impact of high interest rates and inflation weighed on consumers and businesses.

Illustrating what one economist called a stagnation nation", the Office for National Statistics said zero growth in gross domestic product in the third quarter followed 0.2% growth in the second quarter.