U.K. Consumers Drive Recovery as Growth Accelerates to 0.8%

U.K. consumers were the driving force behind Britain’s economic growth at the start of the year, continuing a trend after they led the recovery in 2013.

Consumer spending rose 0.8 percent in the first quarter, a 10th straight increase, adding 0.5 percentage point to gross domestic product. The economy grew 0.8 percent in the period, up from 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, the Office for National Statistics said. Business investment increased 2.7 percent, following a 2.4 percent gain the previous quarter.