UK economic growth slows in February

The UK's economic growth slowed in February following a sharp fall in the production of cars and computer goods.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the economy expanded by 0.1% compared with 0.8% in January.

The fall in manufacturing was off-set by growth in the services sector including areas such as tourism and travel.

The ONS also said that the UK economy is 1.5% above its pre-coronavirus pandemic level in February 2020.

Economists had been expecting gross domestic product (GDP) - which measures activity in services, construction and manufacturing - to grow by 0.3% in February.

"Following the bounce at the start of the year, it's no surprise that economic growth slowed in February," said Alpesh Paleja, lead economist at the CBI, a business lobby group.

"Near-term challenges to the outlook have ramped up since, with a growing cost-of-living crunch set to weigh on growth," he said. "Businesses are also grappling with headwinds from the Ukraine conflict, which is exacerbating cost pressures and supply chain disruption."