LONDON — Britain's economy emerged from an 18-month recession at the end of last year in better shape than previously thought, although analysts still anticipate a treacherous path to sustainable growth.
But the better than forecast growth may provide some cheer to the government, facing possible defeat in an election expected on May 6 and banking on an economic recovery to help improve its popularity after the worst downturn.
The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product grew 0.4 per cent in the last three months of 2009, above forecasts for an unrevised reading of 0.3 per cent growth and the first quarter of growth since the start of 2008. — Reuters
