UK ends 2016 with better than expected economic growth

Strong consumer spending helped the UK grow by a better-than-expected 0.6% in the final quarter of last year and by 2% for the whole of 2016. Chancellor Philip Hammond said the official figures showed the "fundamental strength and resilience" of the economy, though he acknowledged uncertainty ahead as Brexit looms. Instead strong household spending, bolstering the dominant services sector, has kept growth firing - though Bank of England governor Mark Carney has voiced doubts about how sustainabl