Economic growth at 0.8%

THE GUARDIAN Katie Allien, Friday 27 june 2014. (Click here to original new)
Annual GDP growth revised down slightly to 3.0% from 3.1% but still the strongest since 2007, according to latest figures.

Construction helped the economy to grow. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA Archive/Press Association Ima

The fastest growth in business investment for two years helped support Britain's overall economic growth in the first quarter, boosting hopes the recovery is become more sustainable.

GDP grew by 0.8% in the first three months of the year, the Office for National Statistics said in its final revision, unchanged from its previous growth estimate. Annual GDP growth was revised down slightly to 3.0% from 3.1% but was still the strongest since 2007.

Lidl launches £220m UK store expansion programme

THE GUARDIAN Sarah Butler, Friday 27 June 2014 17.00 BST (Click here to original new)

 

George Osborne, right hailed Lidl's store opening plans, duriing a visit to the supermarket chain's store in Chessington, Surrey with UK managing director Ronny Gottschlich. Photograph: Rex

The threat to the big four supermarkets from discount chains stepped up a notch on Fridayas Germany's Lidl unveiled plans for a £220m expansion in the UK.

The company will open 20 more stores by the end of this year, taking its total to 620. It said the move would create a total of 2,500 jobs in the stores, at its headquarters in Wimbledon, south London, and at a distribution centre in Northfleet in the Thames estuary.