British economy shrinks unexpectedly

G-20 summit: 6 countries in recovery

The G-20's six largest economies took a big hit during the global recession in the past year and a half. Challenges remain but most appear on the path to recovery.

View photos

Quick Vote

Who's more influential?

• Google's Sergey Brin and Larry Page
• Golfer Tiger Woods
• Financial analyst Meredith Whitney
• Rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z

or View results

LONDON (CNN) -- Britain's gross domestic product suffered another decline in the third quarter of 2009, figures showed Friday, meaning the country remains mired in recession.

GDP decreased 0.4% in the third quarter, according to preliminary estimates from Britain's Office of National Statistics.

Some analysts had expected Friday's GDP figures to show the recession in Britain was over.

The British economy officially entered recession in January after two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, which is the traditional definition of a recession.

For the third quarter of 2009, statistics showed the biggest declines occurred in the hotel and restaurant industry, which fell by 1%; construction, which decreased by 1.1%; and agriculture, forestry and fishing, which declined by 1.6%.

There was zero growth in government and other services -- a marginal increase from the previous quarter -- with the health industry making the largest contribution to that figure, statistics showed.