The UK's economy cannot run on frothy coffee for ever

Strong consumer spending is all very well, but it masks the long-term problem of declining business investment

When coffee shops are among Britain's retail stars, it's not surprising that economists argue the merits of the cappuccino economy versus the flat white alternative.

The latest GDP update shows that froth still dominates (the flat white reference being a nod to a tech/digital economy that has yet to gain ascendancy).

Related: UK business investment falls at fastest rate since financial crisis