Economists: UK growth could hit 4% this year

Britain's growth rate could reach as high as 4% this year as the recovery accelerates, economists have said.

Estimates are being rapidly revised up for 2014, despite disappointing manufacturing and construction data last week, the Sunday Times reports. A growing number of economists now think Britain will grow by 3% or more for the year, with the rate possibly peaking around 4% in the middle of the year before easing back. This would be the fastest rate since the third quarter of 2007. Michael Saunders at the investment bank Citi said: "Economists are conditioned for disappointment, but if anything, the risks lie to the high side and there is an outside chance that GDP growth could hit 4%...