BRITAIN is recovering more slowly from the recession at the end of last year than previously thought, official figures suggest.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revised its 0.6 per cent estimate of GDP growth between April and June to 0.5 per cent, after taking into account new annual survey data, VAT returns and updated information about the relative size of each industry for the first time.

It said growth was driven by an increase in the services sector, while the manufacturing and construction industries dragged on the headline figure.

The ONS also revised its estimate of GDP growth across 2023, from 0.1 to 0.3 per cent, saying pay for employees and profits of businesses helped boost the overall figure.

More recent data however shows no growth in both June and July.

Director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said “the quarterly growth path across the last 18 months is virtually unchanged.”