Labour productivity in the UK, as measured by output per hour, grew by 0.9% in the first-quarter of 2018 ended March when compared with the previous quarter, according to new data published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

ONS added that labour productivity has been growing for the past six consecutive quarters. However, it added that the 0.9% growth remains noticeably below the long-term trend observed before 2008 when productivity growth averaged nearly 2% a year.

Labour productivity also grew in both services and manufacturing industries, by 0.9% and 0.7% respectively, when compared to the same period last year.

Last month, the ONS published employment figures for the period from February to April 2018 which showed employment continuing to rise (75.6%) and unemployment falling to record lows (4.2%).