The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) estimated the UK's GDP growth is set to remain weak in the first quarter of this year.

The NIESR said the GDP Tracker suggests that the economy will expand by just 0.2 percent in the first quarter of this year.

Earlier on Monday, official data showed the UK's economy expanded 0.2 percent q-o-q in the fourth quarter of 2018, following a  0.6 percent q-o-q growth in the third quarter. Private and government consumption were the main drivers of growth. On the contrary, gross capital formation and net trade provided a negative contribution. 

Garry Young, Head of macroeconomic forecasting and modelling, noted “The UK economy weakened sharply at the end of 2018, with falls in output in all of the major sectors in December. While single month figures can be volatile, the widespread weakness in official output data and many business surveys does not augur well for economic performance in the United Kingdom in 2019. Further downside economic news, including a costly exit from the EU, would strengthen the case for a more active policy response”.