Economy grows in second quarter


The UK economy expanded in the second quarter of the year, official figures show.


The economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), is estimate to have increased by 0.6% in April-June quarter compared with growth of 0.4% in first quarter (January to March 2016).


The 0.6% growth figure is a preliminary estimate for the second quarter and will be firmed up later on.


Output increased in two of the main industrial groupings within the economy in the second quarter. Services increased by 0.5% and production output increased by 2.1%. However, the construction sector decreased by 0.4% and agriculture by 1.0%, according to the Office for National Statistics.


In the second quarter, GDP was 2.2% higher than the same quarter a year ago.


www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/bulletins/grossdomesticproductpreliminaryestimate/aprtojune2016