UK Q2 GDP growth unexpectedly revised up to nine-year high

Britain's economy grew faster than originally estimated in the second quarter of this year, hitting its fastest rate of growth in more than nine years, official data showed on Friday.

The Office for National Statistics said the economy grew by 1.2 percent in the three months to June, up from its preliminary estimate of 1.1 percent, after construction output proved stronger than first thought. Analysts had expected no revision.

On the year, the economy grew 1.7 percent in the second quarter — 0.1 percentage points higher than the ONS's first estimate and economists' forecasts.

The economy grew 0.3 percent in the first three months of the year.

The figures provide further evidence that Britain's economic recovery accelerated sharply during the first half of the year but economists are concerned that a weakening global economy and looming UK government spending cuts will sap growth in 2011.

Revised construction output figures were published earlier in the month and the ONS had said these could add 0.1 percentage points to GDP.

Household expenditure rose 0.7 percent on the quarter and 1.0 percent on the year, the ONS said. That was the biggest quarterly rise since Q1 2008 and comes after a 0.1 percent fall in the first quarter.