The second estimate of GDP remained unchanged, showing growth of 0.4% in the first quarter. A fall in business investment dragged slightly on growth while net trade subtracted 0.3% from the headline figure. Once again, household consumption was the main driver of the expansion, rising by 0.7% relative to Q4 2015.
The news headlines recently have been dominated by warnings from policymakers and think-tanks about the potential impact of a ‘Brexit’ on the UK’s economic performance. While the long-term outcome is impossible to predict, a vote to leave would increase uncertainty and may have implications for the UK’s growth prospects in the near term. This uncertainty effect is possibly already being reflected in the weaker business investment expenditure in recent quarters.
Source : RICS