Services sector helps Scottish output edge higher

Scottish GDP grew by 0.2% during the fourth quarter of 2015, according to statistics announced today by Scotland’s chief statistician.

The latest Gross Domestic Product figures, covering October to December 2015, show that total output in the economy grew by 0.2% compared to the previous quarter.

On an annual basis, compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, Scottish GDP grew by 0.9%.

However, calendar year GDP growth for 2015 — a comparison of the four quarters of 2015 with the four quarters of 2014 — was 1.9%.

The services sector, which accounts for nearly three quarters of the Scottish economy, grew by 0.3% during the latest quarter, the production sector contracted by 0.1%, and construction output expanded by 0.1%.

These statistics cover activities in the onshore economy in Scotland, and do not include oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.