UK economy continues its growth

THE economy continued to grow in the final quarter of the year with gross domestic product up 0.7%.

It means GDP increased by 1.9% in 2013, the strongest since 2007 when it was 3.4%. But the economy is still 1.3% smaller than it was before the recession.

The data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirms four quarters of GDP growth in 2013.

The ONS said output increased in three of the four main industrial sectors in the three months to December compared with the third quarter.

Output increased by 0.5% in agriculture, 0.7% in production and 0.8% in services. However, output decreased by 0.3% in construction.

GDP was 2.8% higher in the fourth quarter compared with the same period a year ago, but was estimated to be 1.3% below the pre-rececession peak in the first quarter of 2008.