Good news for the UK economy - and bad.

Growth was positive in Q3 - meaning Britain avoided recession.

But at one per cent, it was the slowest annual rate in nearly a decade.

Amid a heavy dump of data, the month on month numbers tell the story:

Services - flat.

Manufacturing - down 0.4 per cent.

Construction - also slipping

While Britain's trade deficit - according to quarterly figures - is on the rise.

As is nervousness over the wider picture ...

According to Bank of England chief Mark Carney last week.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BANK OF ENGLAND GOVERNOR, MARK CARNEY, SAYING:

"Globally that big picture has darkened. The world risks slipping into a low growth, low inflation rut."

With much of the UK awash after heavy flooding,

Its political leaders are caught in a bitter spat over public spending promises made ahead of an election next month.

There are bright notes in the new data:

Household and government expenditure rose, and business investment held steady.

But Brexit is still a key threat - the UK outlook mixed at best.