LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Britain's economy shrank by 0.5 percent in the third quarter, its biggest fall since 1990, official data confirmed on Wednesday, and household spending fell at its sharpest rate since 1995.
The Office for National Statistics also left the annual rate of growth unrevised at 0.3 percent, the weakest since 1992, and there were signs that the consumer sector and manufacturing are suffering more than previously thought.
The second estimate of GDP the distribution, hotels and catering sector contracted by a downwarly revised 1.9 percent in the third quarter, its sharpest fall since 1980.
Household spending, meanwhile, fell by 0.2 percent on the quarter, the biggest decline since Q1, 1995. It was the second straight quarter of decline, making it the longest stretch of falls since the recession of the early 1990s.
The ONS said the figures were depressed by sharp declines in sales of motor vehicle and household goods.
The figures are likely to reinforce concerns that Britain is sliding into a deep recession and will add to expectations that interest rates will need to fall further.
Britain's government announced a 20 billion pound fiscal stimulus package on Monday, which it hopes will prevent the prolonged downturn that many economists are predicting.
The ONS also revised down its estimates for manufacturing sector activity to show a decline of 1.3 percent on the quarter, the weakest since Q4, 2001.