Car manufacturing in the UK has seen a steep drop as the country’s economic growth slowed sharply to 0.1% between July and September, new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show. The latest reading comes in below the 0.2% expansion forecast by analysts and lands just ahead of a Budget in which Chancellor Rachel Reeves is widely expected to raise taxes. A “significant” reduction in car output in September was a major factor behind the weakened performance, the ONS said, linking the decline to the cyber-attack that hit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). Even stripping out this disruption, however, other areas of the economy posted only modest gains. Services and construction both expanded during the quarter, but at a slower pace than earlier in the year. Household spending remains subdued, and economists warn that weak consumer demand may continue to constrain growth in the coming months. The slowdown marks a step down from the 0.3% rise recorded between April and June and the stronger 0.7% growth seen in the first quarter. In September alone, output dipped by 0.1%, with the JLR incident weighing on the figures. The cyber-attack, which began on 31 August, forced one of the UK’s biggest vehicle manufacturers to suspend production for five weeks. Overall manufacturing output slid by 2% that month, driven largely by a 28.6% collapse in car production. Some economists suggested the disappointing data could push the Bank of England towards cutting interest rates as soon as December, while businesses say the slow growth also reflects cost pressures created by last year’s Budget, which increased employer National Insurance contributions and raised the national living wage.