The UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.3% in the third quarter of this year -July to September- helped by the lifting of restrictions due to the coronavirus, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported today.

In the previous three months -April to June-, UK GDP had grown by 5.5%, according to ONS data.

Despite growth, GDP was 2.1% below levels in the last quarter of 2019 -October to December-, before the pandemic broke out, the ONS added.

Between July and September 2021, the industrial sector grew by 0.8% and 2.1% below pre-pandemic levels, while construction fell 1.5% in the quarter, after four straight quarters of gains.

Household consumption increased 2.0% in the third quarter, due to the lifting of restrictions, but was 4.4% below pre-pandemic levels.

The services sector, considered the lung of the country’s economy, grew 1.6% in the third quarter, after posting a 6.5% gain in the previous three months, the ONS added.

In September, GDP grew by 0.6%, helped by gains of 0.7% in the services sector and 1.3% in construction, while the industrial sector decreased by 0.1%.

ONS Director of Economics Grant Fitzner said today that September saw good growth and the economy is “now slightly below pre-pandemic levels”.

The Bank of England recently cut its forecast for UK economic growth to 7% in 2021 and 5% in 2022, compared to 7.25% and 6%, respectively, which had been calculated last August.

Last week, the UK issuing bank decided to keep interest rates at a historical level of 0.1%, and did not change its quantitative easing program of 895,000 million pounds (one trillion euros).

In addition, the entity estimates that inflation – which is at 3.1% and has been rising since the reopening of the economy – could hit 4% or 5% before falling back to near 2% levels.

The UK has accumulated debt which at the end of September stood at 2.21 trillion pounds (2.60 trillion euros), which is equivalent to 95.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the highest level since March 1963.