TOP NEWS: UK GDP grows ahead of consensus in March and first quarter

(Alliance News) - The UK economy grew by more than expected in March and in the first quarter of ...

Alliance News 10 May, 2024 | 6:20AM
Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

(Alliance News) - The UK economy grew by more than expected in March and in the first quarter of 2024, according to official numbers on Friday.

UK gross domestic product increased by 0.4% in March from February, the Office for National Statistics reported. This was ahead of FXStreet-cited market consensus of 0.1% growth. UK GDP had expanded by 0.2% on-month in February, according to revised data from the ONS.

In the first quarter of 2024, GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.6%, beating expectations of a 0.4% increase and following a 0.3% decline in the fourth quarter of 2023 and a 0.1% decline in the third quarter.

Compared with the same quarter a year ago, GDP rose 0.2%.

The ONS also said that industrial production increased by 0.2% in March from February. It was expected to decline by 0.5%, according to FXStreet. Production had risen by 1.0% in February from January.

On an annual basis, industrial production improved by 0.5% in March, having risen by 1.0% a month earlier.

Data on Friday also showed the UK trade deficit narrowed to GBP1.10 billion in March from GBP2.29 billion in February, as imports fell at a faster pace than exports.

The value of goods imports declined by 2.5% in March, because of lower imports of machinery and transport equipment and fuels.

The value of goods exports decreased by 1.3%, with a fall in exports to non-EU countries partially offset by a rise in exports to the EU.

By Greg Rosenvinge, Alliance News senior reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

About Author

Alliance News

Alliance News provides Morningstar with continuously updating coverage of news affecting listed companies.

© Copyright 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use        Privacy Policy        Modern Slavery Statement        Cookie Settings        Disclosures