Britain's GDP rose modestly in fourth quarter

LONDON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Britain's gross domestic product rose 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter in 2013 with the largest gain coming from the country's service-oriented businesses.

The construction sector contracted 0.3 percent in the October through December period and agriculture was up 0.5 percent. Manufacturing output expanded 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter, the Office of National Statistics said Tuesday.

Economic expansion in Britain has been steady and slow throughout 2013, rising under 1 percent for the year, but steering clear of negative numbers for all four quarters.

In the third quarter, Britain's GDP grew 0.8 percent.

Compared to the fourth quarter year earlier, Britain's total economic output rose 2.8 percent, ONS said.