BRITAIN'S economy grew at its weakest rate for more than a decade in the first quarter of this year because of slower construction output and consumer spending.

The latest quarterly data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed UK gross domestic product (GDP) growth revised down to 0.1 per cent from the 0.2 per cent published last month.

The rise was the lowest rate of GDP growth since the second quarter of 1992.

The ONS said the revision was the result of a lowered estimate of construction output following updated information.

Construction output is now estimated to have fallen by 1.9 per cent in the first quarter, compared with the rise of 2.1 per cent previously published. The fall was due to declines in private repair and maintenance and private commercial work.

But the ONS revised output figures for services upwards.

Services output is now estimated to have grown by 0.4 per cent compared with 0.3 per cent previously, reflecting updated survey information from the telecoms industry and an increase in Government spending on defence in the last quarter.

Household spending growth was revised to 0.2 per cent from the 1.0 per cent growth in the previous quarter, as retail sales growth decelerated.