UK economy unexpectedly grows in August despite fall in consumer spending

Latest data showing surprise 0.1% growth is boost to John Healey a fortnight before his first budgetThe UK economy unexpectedly continued to grow in August despite a fall in consumer spending before chancellor John Healey’s budget.Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.1% last month, compared with 0.4% growth in July. City economists had forecast the economy wou…