UK economy returns to growth as car manufacturing rebounds

Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “UK GDP grew 0.3 per cent in November compared to forecasts of just 0.1 per cent with services doing much of the heavy lifting.

“Add yesterday’s comments from the Bank of England’s Alan Taylor that inflation is on track to reach target levels of two per cent by the middle of the year, and the case for a soft landing would look to be holding the high ground.

“But it’s not all good news with today’s economic output figures revealing broadly flat production numbers and a 1.1 per cent fall in construction activity.”