The UK economy recorded sluggish growth of just 0.1% between July and September, as a cyber attack that forced Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to shut down production hit the country’s

manufacturing output, according to official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The modest rise in gross domestic product (GDP) follows a 0.3% increase in the previous quarter and comes in below economists’ expectations of 0.2% growth. September proved particularly weak, with output falling by 0.1%, driven by disruptions in car manufacturing and a slowdown in pharmaceuticals.

ONS Director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown said growth had “slowed further in the third quarter,” adding that “both services and construction were weaker than in the previous period.” She noted a “particularly marked fall in car production in September” following the cyber incident at JLR.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who is set to deliver her Budget on November 26, acknowledged the disappointing figures but struck an optimistic tone.

“We had the fastest-growing economy in the G7 in the first half of the year, but there’s more to do to build an economy that works for working people,” Reeves said. “At my Budget later this month, I will take the fair decisions to build a strong economy that helps us to continue to cut waiting lists, cut the national debt and cut the cost of living.”

The figures highlight the fragile state of the UK’s post-pandemic recovery as policymakers grapple with stagnant productivity, weak investment, and ongoing pressures on households. Photo by Philippe Salgarolo, Wikimedia commons.