February was a no-growth month, according to the latest update from the Office for National Statistics, published this morning. A rise in construction was offset by a fall in services, resulting in zero headline growth.
The strikes are taking their toll. The biggest contribution to the fall in services came from education and public administration, as striking teachers downed tools. Education fell by 1.7 per cent. Meanwhile public administration fell by 1.1 per cent, as ‘this industry also saw industrial action take place within the civil service during February 2023.’
An optimist might note that while the strikes offset economic activity in other sectors, at least there was some growth to point to: monthly construction figures had a comeback, registering a 2.4 per cent increase in volume, compared to a 1.7 per cent fall in January. Meanwhile consumer-facing services grew by 0.4
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