Growth downgrade

Fears of a 'double dip' recession are growing as figures released today show the UK economy has yet again missed its growth targets.

The gloomy predictions come as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) halved its growth forecast for the UK with latest figures showing the economy only grew by 0.1% between April and June, less than the 0.2% that had been predicted previously.

The figures, which follow a worrying trend of disappointing economic forecasts, could cast a shadow over the prime minister's keynote speech to Conservative party conference today in which he is expected to champion the coalition's tough economic policies.

However, critics of the government's policy claim that in their haste to cut the budget deficit, the coalition has sacrificed economic growth and recovery.

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