UK GDP preview: sharp slowdown expected in 2017

Growth figures this week are expected to confirm resilience of UK economy. But weaker sterling and higher inflation will dent that, warn economists

Official figures this week are expected to provide fresh evidence that the UK economy remained resilient in the face of Brexit uncertainty at the close of 2016 but economists warn Britain is headed for a sharp slowdown this year.

After confounding most economic forecasters with solid GDP growth of 0.6% in the three months following June's referendum, the economy is expected to have grown 0.5% in the final quarter of last year, according to a Reuters poll of economists.

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