THE country is still in recession despite predictions to the contrary, it emerged today

THE country is still in recession despite predictions to the contrary, it emerged today

New figures showed the economy shrank for a record sixth quarter in a row between July and September.

The shock 0.4% third-quarter fall takes the total loss of output since the recession began last year to 5.9%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Experts predicted a 0.2% advance for the economy, but today's figures leave the UK in the grip of the longest period of continuous decline since ONS records began in 1955.