Corrects fourth para to show production side
The U.K. economy grew at a slower pace as initially estimated in the first quarter, second estimates published by the Office for National Statistics showed Thursday.
Gross domestic product expanded 0.3 percent in the first quarter, which was weaker than the 0.6 percent seen a quarter ago. This was the slowest growth since the fourth quarter of 2012.
On a yearly basis, GDP growth eased to 2.4 percent from 3 percent in the previous quarter. Both sequential and annual growth figures came in line with the initial estimate published on April 28.
On the production front, the dominant service sector grew 0.5 percent, while construction and production fell 1.6 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. Agriculture output was down 0.2 percent.
Another report from the ONS showed that services output climbed 2.8 percent in March from a year ago. Month-on-month, services output edged up 0.1 percent, following a 0.3 percent rise in February.
Gross fixed capital formation increased GBP 1.1 billion or 1.5 percent sequentially to GBP 74.7 billion in the first quarter, the ONS said in a separate communique. This was the highest level since fourth quarter of 2007.
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April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.