Economists expect new government data this week to show UK growth slowed down last year, as the European Central Bank (ECB) adjusts to a Eurozone pulling further away in a tale of two economies.

 

Forecasts collected by the Treasury show independent economists expect GDP growth to hit 1.7 per cent for 2017 overall in figures to be released on Friday, a slight dip compared to the 1.8 per cent expansion seen in 2016.

 

“The key drivers of the slowdown are set to be consumer spending and business investment,” said Christian Jaccarini, an economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research. “Consumers have faced a real income squeeze, which we expect will persist for much of 2018.”

 

 

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