UK growth confirmed at 0.5 per cent

In the third estimate for the period, the ONS also reaffirmed that consumer spending during the three months declined by 0.6%, the biggest fall since the second quarter of 2009, while construction output was revised upwards.

Philip Shaw, analyst at Investec, said: “There is nothing that is too surprising in these figures.”

Shaw added that he was more focused on factors outside the UK that could affect the economy in the future. Specifically he said it was important that Greece’s debt woes were “sorted out in an orderly manner” and that US economy picked up.

Shaw added that the latest figures from the ONS meant the Bank of England was likely to keep interest rates at 0.5% for the time being.