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UK economy grows as COVID-19 restrictions ease

UK gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have increased by 4.8% between April and June 2021 as trading restrictions were eased in the spring months.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also show that GDP increased across all three months in Q2 2021 at 2.2% in April, 0.6% in May and 1% in June 2021.

The level of GDP in the UK is now 4.4% below the pre-pandemic level at the end of 2019.

Hospitality saw the largest growth in Q2 (87.8%), followed by the wholesale and retail sector, which increased by 12.8%.

Jonathan Athow, national statistician for economic statistics at the ONS, said:

"The UK economy has continued to rebound strongly, with hospitality benefitting from the first full month of indoor dining, while spending on advertising was boosted by the reopening of many services."

The ONS also credited the re-opening of non-essential retail, and the Euro 2020 Championship for the economic recovery in the services sector.

The reopening of schools also saw education output increase by 19.4%.

Production output rose by 0.5% in Q2 2021 following a fall of 0.5% in the previous quarter, but remains 3.3% below its pre-pandemic level.

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