UK manufacturing and construction ended 2016 on a strong note

ONS data shows increased output and narrowing of trade gap in December as economy defies Brexit uncertainty

Britain's manufacturers and construction firms had a December bounce, adding to evidence that the UK economy ended 2016 on a strong note despite the Brexit vote.

Backing up official estimates that show the UK economy was the fastest growing of the G7 leading industrial countries last year, figures published on Friday came in stronger than City economists expected.

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