Economist Expect UK GDP to Display Bumper Second Quarter

        By Jon Sindreu
        LONDON--The British economy probably grew at a much stronger pace during the second quarter, economists say, turning the page on a small slump in the beginning of the year.
        According to median forecasts by analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal, the U.K.'s gross domestic product rose 0.7% in the three months to June, compared with 0.4% growth during the first quarter. Although this is just a preliminary figure, it would lift hopes that the British economy will have a bumper 2015.
        "We expect improved second-quarter GDP growth to have been primarily the consequence of a pickup in services activity," said Howard Archer, economist at IHS Global Insight. "We also expect there to have been healthy consumer spending in the second quarter."
        However, several indicators point to a mixed picture, which could derail hopes of stronger economic growth: Manufacturing and construction continue to struggle, shifting all the weight onto the shoulders of Britain's over-large services sector. The strength of the pound and the eurozone's woes have hampered efforts by British companies to sell overseas, even though analysts expect GDP figures to confirm a small improvement in industrial activity.
        (Figures in parentheses refer to number of economists surveyed.)
        Write to Jon Sindreu at jon.sindreu@wsj.com
        (END) Dow Jones Newswires

        July 24, 2015 12:56 ET (16:56 GMT)

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