The UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.3% in January, compared with a 0.5% decline last December, above analysts’ forecasts, according to data released this Friday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). ).

The biggest boost came from the services sector, which grew 0.5% in January after dropping 0.8% the previous month, with the largest contribution to growth coming from education, health and wellness, and arts, entertainment and leisure activities, the ONS said.

Production fell 0.3% in January after growing 0.3% in December 2022, while the construction sector fell 1.7% in the first month of the year after remaining flat in December last year.

The ONS director of economic statistics, Darren Morgan, has pointed out that although “the economy partially recovered in January from the large slump seen in December”, “the last three months and, indeed, the last 12 months, have shown zero growth.”

The growth results released today allayed fears that the UK could register a recession in the first quarter of 2023, and are known ahead of Economy Minister Jeremy Hunt presenting his annual state budget proposal next Wednesday.

In a statement made this Friday, Hunt has indicated that “in the face of serious global challenges, the UK economy has proven more resilient than many expected”, although, he said, “there is still a long way to go.”

Labor Finance spokeswoman Rachel Reeves has criticized that the national economy has barely progressed “inch by inch” under a Conservative government.