UK economy returns to growth
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed that the UK's economy grew during the first quarter of 2011, news that may interest people in trust jobs.
The statistics revealed that gross domestic product (GDP) for the three months ending in March showed an increase of 0.5 per cent compared with the previous quarter.
This follows a surprise contraction in the last quarter of 2010, where conditions such as the unusually poor weather conditions were blamed for contributing to a 0.5 per cent drop in GDP.
Output in the services sector performed well, showing a rise of 0.9 per cent, though the figures as a whole were held back by a drop of 4.7 per cent in the construction industry.
Commenting on the figures, chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne said it is "good news" that growth has returned to the UK economy.
However, his opposition counterpart Ed Balls said they revealed the country has "flatlined since the autumn" and the conservative-led coalition government had "choked off" the recovery.
