UK had lowest growth of G7 economies

Household spending slowed to its lowest annual growth for six years in 2017 amid a squeeze from Brexit-fuelled inflation, with borrowing surging and family savings slumping to a record low.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed economic growth slowed to 0.4% in the final three months of last year, down from 0.5% in the third quarter as weaker household spending took its toll.

The ONS revised up growth for the year as a whole to 1.8% from the 1.7% previous estimate, but this was still the lowest since 2012.

It leaves the UK with the lowest growth among the G7 economies at the end of 2017 as it enters the final year of its membership of the European Union.

The quarterly national accounts data showed Britons turned to debt to support spending in the face of last year’s surging inflation, which outstripped paltry wage growth.

The proportion of total income saved by households dropped to 4.9% in 2017, its lowest level since records began in 1963, the ONS said.

Overall household spending fell last year to 1.7%, which was the lowest annual growth since 2011, according to the ONS.

The UK’s current account deficit with the rest of the world narrowed to £82.9 billion or 4.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017 – the smallest gap since 2011.

This came as a growing world economy boosted the earnings on foreign investments.

In the fourth quarter, the current account deficit shrank by more than expected to £18.4bn, or 3.6% of GDP, down from £19.2bn in the previous three months.

Net trade – exports less imports – made its largest contribution to full-year growth since 2011, the ONS reported.

Household spending had its lowest growth for six years.