GDP fell 0.4 percent in three months to October

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain remained in recession in the three months to October, making the current downturn worse than that in the early 1980s, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said on Thursday.

NIESR estimated GDP fell 0.4 percent in the three months to October, the same as in the three months to September.

"The profile of the economy suggests that the current depression is probably slightly worse than the experience of the early 1980s but not as bad as that of the early 1930s," NIESR said.

In its estimate of GDP for the third quarter, published in early October, the think-tank had estimated a flat GDP reading. However, official data showed the economy shrank by 0.4 percent between July and September, marking the longest recession on record.

Official figures earlier on Thursday showed industrial output in September rose at its fastest monthly pace in 7 years, rebounding from a sharp decline in August.

"The buoyancy of industrial production in September is good news, but a rise between May and July petered out with renewed weakness in August," NIESR said.