Britain’s economy shrank by 0.4% in April as car factories shut down in case of a hard Brexit, and stockpiling boost fadedLatest: UK economy shrank 0.4% in AprilONS: Brexit uncertainty hit growthBiggest fall in monthly GDP since 2016Car production plunged amid Brexit shutdownsFactory output contracted sharplyServices stalled; construction also down

Car production slumped 24% as manufacturers shut down plants temporarily in anticipation of no-deal exit that did not happen

Rise of 32,000 in three months to April was weakest since August

Rolling economic and financial news, including new UK unemployment figures and the latest trade war actionLatest: Trump says Fed clueless on ratesNewsflash: UK jobs report beats forecastsPublic sector boost as basic pay keeps risingEmployment up by 32,000, unemployment dropsJobless rate still just 3.8%

The UK economy contracted sharply in April as Conservative Party MPs jostled for a Brexit-dominated leadership contest while data showed the biggest decline in car production since records began.

U.K. manufacturing output fell the most in almost 17 years in April as the boost from Brexit stockpiling evaporated and car producers went ahead with planned shutdowns.