July 23, 2006	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 26, 1427

LONDON, July 22: Britain's economy grew by 0.8 per cent during the second quarter of 2006 compared with the previous three months, official data showed on Friday.

The reading marked the fastest quarterly rate of growth since the second quarter of 2004.

On a 12-month basis, the economy grew by 2.6pc in the three months ended June 30 compared with the same quarter of 2005, according to initial estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

Both numbers were higher than analysts' consensus forecasts of 0.7 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.The economy grew at its fastest rate for two years in the second quarter, lifted by stronger service sector activity and relatively healthy manufacturing expansion, noted Global Insight economist Howard Archer.—AFP