First quarter GDP moved in line with expectations. A provisional 0.1 percent quarterly rise matched the market consensus and also the unrevised fourth quarter rate. Annual growth fell to 0.2 percent, down from 0.6 percent, and its weakest reading since the Covid-led 7.7 percent contraction seen in the first quarter of 2021. GDP was still 0.5 percent below its pre-Covid mark in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Household spending was only flat on the quarter after a 0.2 percent increase in the previous period and government consumption (minus 2.5 percent) subtracted for the first time in three quarters. However, gross fixed capital formation expanded 1.3 percent within which business investment rose 0.7 percent and so comfortably more than reversed the fourth quarter's 0.2 percent decline. Business inventories (excluding alignment and balancing) had a small positive impact, but this was essentially offset by net foreign trade as an 8.1 percent drop in exports more than offset a 7.2 percent decline in imports.

The provisional first quarter data are in keeping with the BoE's revised expectations for essentially stagnant output in the first half of the year and so should have few immediate implications for monetary policy. Still, the weakness of consumption will be seen by the MPC's doves as reason for being cautious about any additional hike in interest rates. That said, at 13 and 19 respectively, the UK's ECDI and ECDI-P remain above zero and so still indicative of slightly faster than expected growth of overall economic activity.

Quarterly growth is seen at just 0.1 percent, matching the fourth quarter gain.

Gross domestic product (GDP) is the broadest measure of aggregate economic activity and encompasses every sector of the economy. Since 2018, the first, or provisional, estimate includes the GDP expenditure components as well as data on the main output sectors. These results are updated in the second, and final, report.

GDP is the all-inclusive measure of economic activity. Investors need to closely track the economy because it usually dictates how investments will perform. Stock market Investors like to see healthy economic growth because robust business activity translates to higher corporate profits. The GDP report contains a treasure-trove of information which not only paints an image of the overall economy, but tells investors about important trends within the big picture. These data are readily comparable to other industrialized countries. GDP components such as consumer spending, business and residential investment, and price (inflation) indexes illuminate the economy's undercurrents, which can translate to investment opportunities and guidance in managing a portfolio.

Each financial market reacts differently to GDP data because of their focus. For example, equity market participants cheer healthy economic growth because it improves the corporate profit outlook while weak growth generally means anemic earnings. Equities generally drop on disappointing growth and climb on good growth prospects.

Bond or fixed income markets are contrarians. They prefer weak growth so that there is less of a chance of higher central bank interest rates and inflation. When GDP growth is poor or negative it indicates anemic or negative economic activity. Bond prices will rise and interest rates will fall. When growth is positive and good, interest rates will be higher and bond prices lower.

Currency traders prefer healthy growth and higher interest rates. Both lead to increased demand for a local currency. However, inflationary pressures put pressure on a currency regardless of growth. For example, if the UK reports that the consumer price index has risen more than the Bank of England's 2 percent inflation target, demand for sterling could decline. Similarly, when the Bank of England lowers interest rates, the pound sterling weakens. (Currency traders also watch the interest rate spread between countries.)