UK growth still expected to soften despite latest boost

Britain’s economy likely expanded by 0.7% in the three months to January, quickening slightly from the fourth quarter, the UK’s National Institute of Economic and Social Research said yesterday.

Its estimate followed the earlier publication of industrial output and trade data for December, which underlined the UK economy’s strong end to 2016.

The institute cited consumer spending and a pick-up in industrial production as the main drivers behind the economy.