UK economy far exceeds forecasts to grow 0.5% in boost to Rachel Reeves

February GDP rise was bigger than forecast - but impact from Donald Trump's tariff war is yet to come

• Analysis: GDP jump offers Reeves some light as UK enters tariff tunnel
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The UK economy grew by a faster-than-expected 0.5% in February, official figures showed, in a boost for the chancellor Rachel Reeves before an expected downturn sparked by Donald Trump's tariff war.

The increase in gross domestic product in February was larger than the 0.1% that a poll of City economists had forecast, while January's figure of a modest fall of 0.1% was revised up to zero growth.