Britain's economy grew by a weaker than expected 0.2% in the first quarter, slowing from the previous three months, official data showed today as a May 6 general election neared.
'Gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.2% in the first quarter of 2010, compared with an increase of 0.4% in the previous quarter,' the Office for National Statistics said in a statement giving its first estimate.
'The decrease in the growth rate was due to weaker growth in services,' it added.
The official reading undershot market expectations for similar growth of 0.4% and came after particularly harsh winter weather in January hampered economic activity.
The performance of the economy, which escaped from a record recession in the final three months of 2009, is the key issue in the run-up to the general election in 13 days' time.
Whichever party wins power in the general election, experts say that significant tax rises and spending cuts are required to fix Britain's mountain of public debt.
