THE UK's longest and deepest recession finally came to an end in the last three months of 2009, official figures showed today.
A 0.1 per cent expansion in the economy between October and December ended six straight quarters of shrinking output, according to first estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Overall, the economy slumped 4.8 per cent last year - the biggest annual contraction since records began in 1949 - and it has lost six per cent since the recession began in 2008.
A Treasury spokesman said: "The Chancellor has always said that the economy would return to growth by the turn of the year, and today's estimate of 0.1 per cent growth in the fourth quarter bears that judgment out.
"What this estimate makes clear is that the Government is right to be confident but cautious about the prospects for the economy and that it is right that we keep supporting the economy.
"Withdrawing the support that has helped us get to this point would put the recovery at risk."
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