UK: Q1 Final GDP arrives at 0.2% q/q, beats estimates, Current account deficit shrinks to GBP -17.72 bn

The UK  GDP third estimate showed that the GDP figures came in at 0.2% q/q in the first quarter of 2018, a tad higher than 0.1% seen in the previous readout, while bettering expectations.

While on an annualized basis, the UK economy’s growth rate arrived at 1.2% in Q1, meeting the consensus forecasts of 1.2% while easing from a 1.3% (revised higher from 1.2%) flash reading.

Separately, the UK Q1 current deficit unexpectedly narrowed by GBP -17.72 billion versus a decrease of GBP -18.00 billion expected and GBP -19.54 billion (revised down from GBP -18.443 billion) last.