UK economic growth slowed to 0.8% in May – business live

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UK GDP grew by 3.6% in the three months to May 2021.

That’s mainly because of strong retail sales over the three months, increased levels of attendance as schools reopened from March, and the reopening of food and beverage service activities, the ONS says.

Pubs and restaurants were responsible for much of the growth in May, says Jonathan Athow, the UK’s deputy national statistician.

That’s because they were allowed to service customer indoors from mid-May.

Commenting on the GDP figures for May, @jathers_ONS said: (1/2) pic.twitter.com/jDrupIYOiJ

.@jathers_ONS continued: (2/2) pic.twitter.com/NP3V6gQP4s

Food and beverage services activities was the main contributor to the growth in consumer-facing services, growing by 34.0% in May 2021 as restaurants and pubs could serve the public indoors for part of the month.

Strong growth means that the industry is now 9.4% below its pre-pandemic level (February 2020), but 0.3% above its August 2020 peak when the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme boosted consumer demand for bars and restaurants. Arts, entertainment and recreation also contributed positively to consumer-facing services growth, growing by 7.3%.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/36m4sli

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