Britain’s economy contracted for a second straight month in October as consumers braced for a painful budget, leaving the Labour government’s pledge to boost growth in trouble only months after taking power.
Gross domestic product slipped 0.1% following a 0.1% contraction the previous month, the Office for National Statistics said Friday. Forecasters, who had expected a 0.1% gain, said the economy is now in danger of shrinking in the fourth quarter.


