U.K. Economy Displays Mixed Fortunes at End of Third Quarter

  • Industrial output jumps, construction shrinks in September
  • Widening trade deficit acts as drag on growth during quarter

Construction workers in London

Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
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The U.K. economy ended the third quarter on a mixed note, figures Friday showed.

Industrial production rose a larger-than-forecast 0.7 percent in September, with output increasing across most manufacturing sectors, the Office for National Statistics said. But construction fell the most in 18 months and a narrowing of the trade deficit was not enough to prevent the shortfall widening in the third quarter.