Britain third quarter growth estimate cut to 0.4%

Revised figures show Britain's economy grew more slowly in the third quarter than previously estimated.

Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.4 percent in the July-September period, down from previous estimates of 0.5-percent growth, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

The data also revealed a slowdown compared with the second quarter, which came in also weaker than expected after a revision downward.

Analysts had forecast a revision higher in third-quarter GDP to 0.6 percent following some robust pre-Christmas retail sales data.

But a Treasury spokesman said in a statement Wednesday that the latest growth figures "highlight that risks remain" to the British economy despite it growing favourably compared to its eurozone neighbours.

GDP for the second quarter was meanwhile revised down to 0.5 percent from 0.7 percent, the ONS added.