UK growth revised up to 5.5% amid higher NHS spending and exports rise

GDP grew faster than forecast in second quarter as fewer Covid restrictions prompted households and companies to spend

Higher NHS spending, stronger investment and a bounce back in exports helped the UK economy to recover more quickly from the lockdown at the start of the year, official figures have shown.

After shrinking by 1.4% in the first three months of the year, the economy grew by a record 5.5% in the second quarter as restrictions on activity were eased.