UK economy back to growth but February rise may prove short-lived

Britain’s economy returned to growth in February, exceeding expectations in the final weeks before the outbreak of war in Iran, according to official figures released on Thursday.
Data from the Office for National Statistics showed gross domestic product — the broadest measure of economic output — rose by 0.1 per cent compared with January, recovering from a surprise contraction at the start of the year. GDP captures the overall value of what an economy produces.
A fragile recovery
While ministers have consistently identified economic growth as their central priority, the increases recorded in recent months have been modest. February’s uptick may yet mark the final period of expansion for some time.
The shadow of the Iran war
Despite the two-week ceasefire currently in place, forecasts suggest the conflict in Iran will weigh on the UK economy more heavily than on other major economies. Britain’s outlook had already been downgraded more sharply than that of any other leading economy in the International Monetary Fund’s most recent global assessment.