UK economy beats forecasts with surprise 0.1 per cent growth

Britain’s economy unexpectedly grew by 0.1 per cent in the final quarter of last year, official figures showed on Thursday, offering some respite from the downbeat economic picture facing finance minister Rachel Reeves, though longer-term challenges remain.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast that British gross domestic product would shrink by 0.1 per cent in the period, but the quarter was lifted by stronger-than-expected growth of 0.4 per cent in