UK economy shrinks for 2nd month in a row

Britain's economy contracted unexpectedly for a second month running in May, official data showed on Friday, compounding worries at home for finance minister Rachel Reeves as the nation navigates growing global turbulence.

- ANDY BRUCE & WILLIAM SCHOMBERG

Gross domestic product shrank by 0.1% after a 0.3% drop in April, the Office for National Statistics said.

Economists polled by Reuters had mostly forecast that gross domestic product would rise by 0.1% from April's level. And while the services sector eked out a sliver of growth, declines in industrial output and construction dragged down overall output.

Following a growth surge early in the year, Britain's economy could now be facing flat or weaker growth than previously expected for the April-to-June period, economists said.