UK growth revised up to 0.5%: What drove the stronger figures?

Stronger services growth drove the upward revision to second-quarter GDP growth, as the UK battles high borrowing costs, inflationary pressures and a cooling labour market.

Britain's economy grew more than initially estimated in the second quarter, revised data from the country's statistics agency, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed on Wednesday, offering a boost to Prime Minister Andy Burnham ahead of next month's annual budget update.

The UK's quarterly GDP growth came in at 0.5% in the second quarter, revised up slightly from the 0.4% reported previously.

The figure still marked a slowdown from the 0.6% expansion recorded in the first quarter.

The upward revision was mainly driven by stronger figures for professional, scientific and technical services, following updated business survey data. Services output grew by 0.6%, compared with the previously estimated 0.5%.

"Stronger services growth in the latest quarter means the economy is now slightly larger than previously estimated," ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said in a statement.

Advertising, scientific research, legal services and computer programming were among the main drivers of services growth. Construction also expanded by 0.8%, while production output fell by 0.1%.

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