Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Richard Partington Senior economics correspondent

UK economy defies gloomy warnings to grow 0.7% in first quarter of year

the glass and steel skyscrapers of the City of London
UK GDP rose by 0.2% in March, surpassing the forecasts of City economists who had predicted zero growth on the month. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

The UK economy grew at the fastest pace in a year between January and March, defying warnings of a collapse in activity, as businesses scrambled to invest and export before Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.7% in the quarter, beating City predictions of a 0.6% rise and continuing an expansion after growth of 0.1% in the final three months of last year.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.