The UK economy grew by 0.8% in the first quarter of 2014, while UK manufacturing output grew by 1.3%, according to the latest figures.
It marks the fifth consecutive period of GDP growth – the longest positive run since the financial crisis.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) also said the economy is still 0.6% smaller than its 2008 peak. Chancellor George Osborne said Tuesday’s figure showed that “Britain is coming back”, but that the recovery could not be taken for granted.
“The impact of the Great Recession is still being felt, but the foundations for a broad based recovery are now in place,” he added.
Commenting on today’s GDP data, Ms Lee Hopley, Chief Economist at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “The first cut of data showing GDP growth of 0.8% in the first quarter confirms the rosy economic picture seen in recent surveys. The UK economy is not quite back to pre-recession levels, but we’re not far off.
“Manufacturing has had a bigger hill to climb, but better than expected growth over the quarter, the fastest since 2010q2, was a big step in the right direction. We’re now well on course to see output across the sector end the year at least 3% higher with mounting confidence and a solid demand outlook.”
