25 July 2012
Last updated at 15:19 GMT
The Office for National Statistics said the fall was largely due to a sharp slowdown in the construction sector.
It said it was not yet sure of the size of the effect of the poor weather and the extra June bank holiday.
This means that these figures, which are the first estimate for what happened in the economy between April and June, are more uncertain than usual.
"The bottom line from all this is that the underlying performance of the economy was probably somewhat better than the headline figure of -0.7% would suggest, having regard to the extra bank holiday and to the poor weather," said Joe Grice from the ONS.
"How much that effect might be is something we won't be able to say or to quantify until we have further experience against which to judge."
The figures could be revised in the coming months as more information comes in. The first estimate is largely based on information the first two months of the three-month period.
"Nevertheless, the overall picture is of an economy that remains fragile," the ONS said in its latest analysis of the economy.
Continue reading the main story
Chancellor George Osborne said the country faced "big challenges".
"But given what's happening in the world, we need a relentless focus on the economy and recent announcements on infrastructure and lending show that's exactly what we're doing," he said.
"Thank goodness the Olympics will give our economy a much-needed shot in the arm. But this short-term boost is not enough - we need a plan B now to get the economy moving again and radical reforms to set Britain on a new course for jobs, growth and long-term prosperity."
The ONS did point to some more positive signs for the economy. Employment is growing "modestly", it said, with 181,000 jobs created in the past three months.
With prices rising at a slower rate, the squeeze is also easing on household incomes.
However the output of the economy is still 4.5% lower than it was during its peak before the onset of the financial crisis in 2008.
Construction slump
"This is a disaster for UK growth," said Alan Clarke, economist at Scotiabank.
"It looks like construction has done a lot of the damage," he said. "On average for the year, it's looking very unlikely that we'll be on the right side of zero growth. More likely we'll be contracting."
Production industries, which include manufacturing, decreased by 1.3%, due in part to weak demand from the eurozone, one of the UK's biggest trading partners.
The fall in services output by 0.1% surprised some, including RBS economist Ross Walker, who said he had expected the retail sector to grow during the quarter.
"We thought even with the drag from the Jubilee that we would probably just about squeeze some growth out of that sector, [but] it's contracted."
An economy is considered to be in recession when its output has declined for two consecutive three-month periods.
The UK economy is in a double-dip recession as after a period of recession, it briefly starting growing again before a second bout of falls.
Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund said that the UK faced "significant challenges" from a stalling recovery, high unemployment and threats from the eurozone.
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UK recession deepens after 0.7% fall in GDP
George Osborne: The government has to have "a relentless focus on the economy"
The
UK recession has deepened, latest official figures have shown, after
the output of the economy fell by 0.7% between April and June.
The contraction was much bigger than expected and follows a 0.3% drop in the first three months of the year. The Office for National Statistics said the fall was largely due to a sharp slowdown in the construction sector.
It said it was not yet sure of the size of the effect of the poor weather and the extra June bank holiday.
This means that these figures, which are the first estimate for what happened in the economy between April and June, are more uncertain than usual.
"The bottom line from all this is that the underlying performance of the economy was probably somewhat better than the headline figure of -0.7% would suggest, having regard to the extra bank holiday and to the poor weather," said Joe Grice from the ONS.
"How much that effect might be is something we won't be able to say or to quantify until we have further experience against which to judge."
The figures could be revised in the coming months as more information comes in. The first estimate is largely based on information the first two months of the three-month period.
"Nevertheless, the overall picture is of an economy that remains fragile," the ONS said in its latest analysis of the economy.
Continue reading the main story
Prime
Minister David Cameron said the figures were disappointing: "They show
the extent of the economic difficulties that we're grappling with, not
least the situation right across the eurozone where our neighbours are
also really struggling.
"Clearly we've got to keep doing everything we can to get out
of this difficult situation and provide the growth and jobs that our
people and our economy needs."Chancellor George Osborne said the country faced "big challenges".
"But given what's happening in the world, we need a relentless focus on the economy and recent announcements on infrastructure and lending show that's exactly what we're doing," he said.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
If the figures are correct, this would be by some measure the worst four-year period for the UK, outside wartime, in at least 100 years - worse than what happened in the 1920s and 1930s, and worse than anything in the 1970s and 1980s ”
In response, shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the "truly shocking" figures showed the government's economic plans had failed.
"If these figures don't make the chancellor wake up and change course, then I don't know what will," he said. "Thank goodness the Olympics will give our economy a much-needed shot in the arm. But this short-term boost is not enough - we need a plan B now to get the economy moving again and radical reforms to set Britain on a new course for jobs, growth and long-term prosperity."
The ONS did point to some more positive signs for the economy. Employment is growing "modestly", it said, with 181,000 jobs created in the past three months.
With prices rising at a slower rate, the squeeze is also easing on household incomes.
However the output of the economy is still 4.5% lower than it was during its peak before the onset of the financial crisis in 2008.
Construction slump
Continue reading the main story
What a muddle. On the face of it economic output has tumbled by much more than expected In the second quarter this year.
But the ONS has admitted there is a lot more uncertainty than usual because of the bad weather and the extra bank holiday.
Output is falling, yet jobs are being created in the economy, as last week's labour market data demonstrated. The business organisation the CBI says it thinks the economy is flat rather than negative.
What's really going on? We can say with certainty that the UK economy is not in a good place. As to what really happened between April and June, we may have to wait another year or more till all the revisions have taken place.
Analysis
But the ONS has admitted there is a lot more uncertainty than usual because of the bad weather and the extra bank holiday.
Output is falling, yet jobs are being created in the economy, as last week's labour market data demonstrated. The business organisation the CBI says it thinks the economy is flat rather than negative.
What's really going on? We can say with certainty that the UK economy is not in a good place. As to what really happened between April and June, we may have to wait another year or more till all the revisions have taken place.
Output in the building sector
fell 5.2% in the second quarter compared with the first. It is
continuing to feel the effects of the economic slowdown and a sharp drop
in public spending on social housing and infrastructure projects.
The ONS said the end of major Olympics projects could also be having an effect. "This is a disaster for UK growth," said Alan Clarke, economist at Scotiabank.
"It looks like construction has done a lot of the damage," he said. "On average for the year, it's looking very unlikely that we'll be on the right side of zero growth. More likely we'll be contracting."
Production industries, which include manufacturing, decreased by 1.3%, due in part to weak demand from the eurozone, one of the UK's biggest trading partners.
The fall in services output by 0.1% surprised some, including RBS economist Ross Walker, who said he had expected the retail sector to grow during the quarter.
"We thought even with the drag from the Jubilee that we would probably just about squeeze some growth out of that sector, [but] it's contracted."
An economy is considered to be in recession when its output has declined for two consecutive three-month periods.
The UK economy is in a double-dip recession as after a period of recession, it briefly starting growing again before a second bout of falls.
Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund said that the UK faced "significant challenges" from a stalling recovery, high unemployment and threats from the eurozone.
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Comment number 644.
andyrwebman54 Minutes ago
On the other hand, if you don't pay the debt, then it doubles every 9.6 years! And if you try to inflate your way out of it, the interest rate goes up even more.
Exponential debt is the curse of the imprudent
Comment number 643.
Richy55 Minutes ago
Comment number 263.
Chris3 Hours ago
Comment number 257.
Divots3 Hours ago
Comment number 173.
Hostamosta3 Hours ago