Manufacturing Drives UK Economy to 0.1% Growth in Q4, Narrowly Avoiding Stagnation

The UK economy recorded a marginal growth of 0.1% in the fourth quarter, according to preliminary data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Manufacturing emerged as the primary driver of growth during the final three months of the year, helping the economy narrowly avoid a technical contraction. Despite this contribution, the overall figures signal a sluggish economic environment and ongoing challenges facing the UK. Analysts suggest that this near-stagnation may increase pressure on the Bank of England (BoE) to consider interest rate cuts to stimulate growth. Consequently, the British Pound could face downward pressure as markets weigh the possibility of a more dovish monetary policy. Investors are closely monitoring the impact on GBP/USD and the FTSE 100 following these latest GDP figures.