For the period from June to August 2018, the UK economy increased by 0.7% compared to the previous three months, data from the ONS showed. UK GDP in August increased by 1.5% in annual terms, slowing growth rates compared with a rise of 1.7% in July. ONS statistician Rob Kent-Smith noted the strongest growth in retail, food and beverage production. In the services sector, zero growth was recorded in August, while the figure in the construction sector fell by 0.7%. Industrial production increased by 0.2%. At the same time, output in the manufacturing industry decreased by 0.2%.