C1 Britain’s consumer boom shows signs of petering out

FOR the past seven months the British economy has defied the predictions of analysts, most of whom expected a recession to follow the Brexit referendum in June. GDP grew by 2% in 2016, faster than in any other G7 country—and the economy did better in the second half than in the first. The unexpectedly strong performance is largely thanks to the efforts of households, which have been spending liberally.

http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21715999-spending-spree-has-kept-economy-going-brexit-may-be-nearing-its-end-britains