LONDON (AP) — Britain is suffering a far deeper recession than thought, official figures showed today in a development that is likely to increase the pressure on the government to ease up on its tough austerity approach.

The Office for National Statistics said the British economy contracted by a quarterly rate of 0.7 percent in the second quarter of the year. That was way more than the expectation in the markets for a far more modest 0.2 percent decline, and confirmed that the British recession has run into a third quarter.

The statistics office said the quarter was likely depressed by an extra day’s holiday in June to celebrate the 60-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The wettest quarter since records began over 100 years ago is unlikely to have helped either.

Despite the caveats, the figures are likely to be big blow to the coalition government, which on entering office a little over two years ago put deficit-reduction at the heart of its economic program. Many, particularly the opposition Labour Party, think the medicine has been too much and choked the life out of the British economy, which is Europe’s third-largest.

“We don’t expect much policy response from government after today’s news, though pressure will grow for a change of direction,” said Scott Corfe, senior economist at the Centre for Economic and Business Research.

Last week, the International Monetary Fund said Prime Minister David Cameron’s government may have to ease up on budget cutting if the economy fails to rebound strongly. The IMF cut its forecast for U.K. growth this year to 0.2 percent from 0.8 percent.

A more detailed look at the figures showed all sectors contributing to the quarterly decline.

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