The UK economy contracted in May after businesses across the country downed tools for the King’s coronation, according to official figures.
Gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 0.1% for the month, after increasing by 0.2% in April, the Office for National Statistics said.
The contraction was driven by the extra bank holiday weekend for the royal occasion, meaning sectors like construction and finance lost a working day in the month.
Economists had been expecting the economy to shrink slightly more. Deutsche Bank thought the monthly GDP decline would be 0.3%, while Investec Economics had predicted 0.5%.
The economy had been boosted in April as Britons spent more in pubs, bars and shops.
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