UK GDP grew by 0.2 percent in the three months to May, in the first monthly figure released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
From now on, the ONS will release a monthly indicator and a rolling three-month figure, instead of one set of data every three months.
In the three months to May, the economy grew by 0.2 percent compared with the previous three-month period.
“The first of our new rolling estimates of GDP shows a mixed picture of the UK economy with modest growth driven by the services sector, partly offset by falling construction and industrial output,” said the ONS’s head of national accounts, Rob Kent-Smith.
“Retailing, computer programming and legal services all performed strongly in the three months to May, while housebuilding and manufacturing both contracted.
“Services, in particular, grew robustly in May, with retailers enjoying a double boost from the warm weather and the royal wedding. Construction also saw a return to growth after a weak couple of months.”
UK construction industry also showed signs of recovery in May up 2.9 percent compared with April.
The recovery of private housing repair and maintenance work drove the sector’s recover, growing 7.3 percent in May 2018 following a weak start to the year.
