Shrinking economy offers unhelpful backdrop for Rachel Reeves’s growth push

GDP goes in wrong direction as chancellor puts final touches to fiscal plans

• UK economy shrinks unexpectedly in blow to Reeves

For a government that has made growth its overriding mission, the 0.1% decline in GDP in January signalled by the Office for National Statistics will be depressing news.

As Rachel Reeves prepares to announce her spring statement on 26 March, the economy appears to be going in the wrong direction - underlining the fact that the Office for Budget Responsibility is likely to have presented her with notably weaker forecasts than in October.