GDP figures could mark the end of recession

ANALYSTS expect new figures out this morning to show the UK economy grew in the third quarter.

A positive GDP figure would mark an official end to the recession which has seen three consecutive quarters of negative growth.

Other data, including improving job numbers, have led to questions over how well the GDP figures are reflecting the performance of the UK economy.

But there is a consensus that what growth there is in the economy remains fragile with an ongoing threat posed by conditions in the eurozone.

The latest eurozone purchasing managers index, published yesterday, fell to 45.8, a 40-month low.

The figures mean that eurozone output has fallen every month since October last year with the exception of a marginal increase in January.

TheBusinessDesk.com will send a breaking news alert on the GDP figures as soon as they are published.