British Economy Grows 0.8%

Growth in gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.8% during the three months to June 30 compared with the first quarter, the Office for National Statistics said. The figure, which marks the fastest quarterly rate of growth since the second quarter of 2004, matched the ONS's initial estimate published last month.

On a 12-month basis, the economy grew by 2.6% in the second quarter compared with the same period in 2005. The annual growth rate was also the highest since the fourth quarter of 2004.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006