Britain’s economy grew much stronger than expected in February, prior to the start of the Middle East war, official data showed ahead of a likely hit from the US-Iran conflict, AFP reports.

UK gross domestic product growth climbed to 0.5 per cent in February compared with expansion of 0.1pc in January, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

Analysts’ consensus forecast had been for GDP growth of 0.1pc in February, while Britain’s output ahead is expected to suffer from soaring energy prices caused by the war.

Opinion

Trouble at home

Trouble at home

The country’s strength lies in its political and economic stability, not in fleeting moments of diplomatic success.

Editorial

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