Construction sector has shrunk by 10 per cent since coalition took office, says TUC

date: 25 April 2013

embargo: for immediate release

Commenting on figures released today (Thursday) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which show that the UK economy grew by 0.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2013, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'The Chancellor has set the economic bar so low that avoiding the UK's first ever triple dip recession is considered good news.

'Today's figures have taken us back to where we were six months ago, and not much further on from when the Chancellor started his austerity experiment.

'The economy is flat-lining, unemployment is growing and the much-needed rebalancing of the economy, away from financial services and the South East, has failed to materialise. It's no surprise we face a housing shortage when the construction sector is now nearly 10 per cent smaller than when the Chancellor took office.

'The government's economic policies are still failing on every measure that matters to people.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

GDP growth by sector Q2 2010 - Q1 2013

Baseline Q4 2009 = 100

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