UK economy grew by 0.3% in November, beating forecasts

The UK economy grew by a faster-than-expected 0.3% in November after car production rebounded and the services sector got a boost.

Industrial output rose by 1.1% in the month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, helped by a return to production at Jaguar Land Rover’s facilities.

November’s growth figure was stronger than analysts’ expectations of a 0.1% increase.

The ONS also said the economy “grew slightly” over the three months to the end of November, by 0.1%.

Manufacturing output increased in November, rising by 2.1%, thanks to a big 25.5% increase in the output of motor vehicles as JLR production restarted.

Services output rose by 0.3%, driven by growth in professional and scientific activities such as accounting and tax consultancy.

However, construction output fell by 1.3% in November, and the ONS said the sector also registered “its largest three-monthly fall in nearly three years”.

A Treasury spokesperson said the government was making the economy “work for working people” by “reversing years of underinvestment” in infrastructure as well as putting through planning reform.