The Office for National Statistics revealed on Friday that "the British economy expanded by an upwardly revised 0.3% in the final three months of 2009, solidly outstripping the agency's initial estimate of 0.1% growth".

Capital Economics economist Jonathan Loynes, said, "The return to positive growth was driven primarily by a slowdown in the rate of inventory unwinding, hardly the basis of a strong recovery. Overall, the upward revision is welcome, but does not alter the picture of a very fragile recovery".

Economists, in recent days, had started to worry that the figure would be revised downward, a concern that was emphasized by data that was out this Thursday, showing a 5.8 percent drop in business investment in the same quarter.

Alan Clarke, U. K. economist at BNP Paribas, said, "Further upward revisions are likely in coming months".

"BNP Paribas more buoyant growth in early 2010", Clarke said, but warned that "it won't last".

"Near-term growth will be supported by favorable stimulus measures. These are going to fade and even reverse -- pointing to more sluggish growth this time next year," he said.