27 Aug

UK Economy grows at fastest pace in nine years

UK Economy grows at fastest pace in nine years

It has been reported today that the UK Economy has grown at its fastest rate in nine years.

Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty commented "Today's announcement regarding UK economic growth brings increased security to potential buyers and will encourage more overseas investment into the UK property market"

The Telegraph said "The Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Friday said gross domestic product grew at 1.2pc between April and June, unexpectedly upgrading its previous estimate of 1.1pc.

The advance - the strongest since the same figure was achieved in the first quarter of 2001 - was attributed to record-breaking gains in the construction sector, which helped lift the country's industrial production.

Construction output leaped 8.6pc in the three months to June – the strongest since the second quarter of 1963 – up from an initial estimate of 6.6pc.

On the year, the economy expanded 1.7pc.

Recovery hopes were given a further boost this week from corporate Britain, as a slew of strong results from Britain's big companies appeared to contradict the gloomy outlook of many economists.

However, experts remained cautious on Friday, warning the second quarter would represent a peak in the rate of recovery and any further gains of this magnitude were unlikely.

"After such a large gain in Q2, and with the Government cancelling some spending on public infrastructure, it would be foolhardy to expect another large gain in the next quarter," Malcom Barr, economist with JP Morgan, told PA.

Philip Shaw, economist at Investec, said the revision made "little difference" to the conclusion that the economy expanded "very rapidly" over the quarter.

He added: "Recent indicators suggest the third quarter got off to a good start, so although the pace of expansion in the quarter as a whole seems highly unlikely to match that in Q2, it is possible nonetheless that the UK notches up a very respectable pace of output."

The pound fell more than 0.2pc against the dollar after the report, which showed slower services growth than previously estimated and a drop in fixed investment. The currency traded at $1.5508 as of 9:34am in London.

The yield on the benchmark two-year government bond was down 2 basis points on Friday at 0.618pc."

This piece can be read at www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/7967286/UK-economy-grows-at-fastest-pace-in-nine-years.html