"Our monthly estimates of GDP suggest that output grew by 0.6 per cent in the three months ending in February 2017 after growth of 0.8 per cent in the three months ending in January 2017".

Rebecca Piggott, Research Fellow at NIESR, said "Our estimates suggest the economy expanded by 0.6 per cent in the three months ending in February 2017. Robust consumer spending growth has supported the economic expansion throughout 2016, but there are now signs that this support is beginning to soften. Consumer price inflation is expected to continue to increase throughout the rest of 2017, further reducing the contribution from consumer spending to economic growth. A key question is by how much and over what period of time this domestic economic weakness can be offset via contributions of net trade."