The UK economy returned to growth in May – but expansion was muted amid price pressures due to the Iran war, official figures have shown.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product rose (GDP) by 0.1% in May, following a 0.1% contraction in April.
The ONS said the meagre growth in May came after expansion of 0.3% in the all-important services sector, which was partly offset by falls of 0.5% in production and 0.8% in construction.
Growth has been pulling back sharply after a much better than expected start to the year, with the ONS recording growth of 0.3% in March before the contraction in April, which was the first fall for eight months in what was seen as a sign that the Iran war was beginning to take its toll.
In the three months to May, GDP rose 0.7% after upwardly revised growth of 0.8% in the three months to April.
Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics, said: “While all three main sectors grew over the three months, the slight growth in GDP in May was driven by services alone, with production and construction both falling back.”
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