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February 2015 GDP Estimates - GDP Growth 0.7% in three months to January

Our monthly estimates of GDP suggest that output grew by 0.7 per cent in the three months ending in January 2015 after growth of 0.5 per cent in the three months ending in December 2014. This was predominantly driven by growth in private services. Consumer spending is expected to contribute significantly to GDP growth in 2015, supported by improvements in purchasing power emanating from the sharp drop in global oil prices.

* NIESR’s latest quarterly forecast (published 10th February 2014) projects GDP growth of 2.9 per cent per annum in 2015 and 2.3 per cent in 2016 (see http://niesr.ac.uk/media for the associated press release).

Technical notes: Our track record in producing early estimates of GDP suggests that our projection for the most recent three-month period has a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.234% point (for the full sample period 1999Q3-2013Q4) when compared to the first estimate produced by the ONS. For the period 2008Q1 to 2013Q4 the RMSE is 0.334% point. The impact of the adverse weather in 2010Q4 is a noticeable outlier. Excluding 2010Q4 from the analysis, the RMSE for the full sample period is 0.195% point, and for 2008Q1 to 2013Q4 the RMSE is 0.258% point. These comparisons can be made only for complete calendar quarters. Outside calendar quarters the figures are less reliable than this.

A paper describing the methodology used to produce the data was published in the February 2005 volume of the Economic Journal:

A paper describing the methodology used to produce the data for the inter-war period was published in the October 2012 volume of Explorations in Economic History:

From April until October 2006 our estimates were computed using the Index of Services published by ONS. However this monthly series shows considerable volatility which has caused us some problems in estimating GDP. From our November 2006 press release we have therefore reverted to using a model of private services output based on indicator variables.  This means that, while all our figures for calendar quarters are fully coherent with ONS data, our estimates of monthly private service output are not. The series can be thought of as indicating the underlying value of the ONS series.

Contents of Press Release (see file download)

Table 1, Page 3: Summary Table of Quarterly Growth Rates showing Monthly Data, 3 months ending in that month, and Quarterly Growth (% per quarter). All contain Figures for Industry & GDP.

Table 2, Page 4: Output by Sector (Industry, Agriculture, Construction, Private Services, Public Services, GDP(B) (calculated at prices excluding taxes and subsidies), GDP

Table 3, Page 5: Output in Quarter Ending in Month Shown by sector (as above)

Table 4, Page 6: Growth in Quarter Ending in Month Shown over Previous Quarter (% at Annual Rate) by sector (as above)

Notes for editors: For further information please contact the NIESR Press Office or Brooke Hollingshead on 020 7654 1923/ b.hollingshead@niesr.ac.uk

National Institute of Economic and Social Research

2 Dean Trench Street

Smith Square

London, SW1P 3HE

United Kingdom

Switchboard Telephone Number: 020 7222 7665

Website: http://www.niesr.ac.uk

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