British Economy Grows By 0.6% In First Quarter

The British economy slowed slightly ahead of national elections next month, growing by 0.6 % in the first quarter of 2005 from the previous three months, official figures showed April 22.

That compared with 0.7% over the final quarter of last year, National Statistics said, and was higher than analysts' consensus forecasts of 0.5%t. Growth of output on a 12-month comparison stood at 2.8% in the three months to March, in line with expectations, compared with 2.9% for the same period the previous year.