UK finance minister Philip Hammond with some comments

  • UK economy is strong
  • We have made significant progress

Well, the year-on-year reading of 1.2% was the weakest since Q2 2012. It's not exactly something that can be brushed aside easily with weather although no doubt it definitely had some impact one way or another. But I guess he has to put up a strong facade otherwise he wouldn't be good at what he does.