Sluggish UK economy inches forward; BOE unlikely to act

London

BRITAIN'S economy gathered only a little speed in the second quarter after almost stalling at the start of the year, propped up by the services sector and a booming film industry, official figures showed on Wednesday.

Growth of 0.3 per cent on the quarter was up from 0.2 per cent in the first quarter, a figure that is likely to cement expectations that the Bank of England (BOE) will keep interest rates on hold next week at their record low level.