INSTANT VIEW 6-Q2 GDP growth weakest in 3 years

LONDON (Reuters) - British economic growth slowed as expected in the second quarter of this year to its weakest rate in three years as private housebuilding slumped, the Office for National Statistics said on Friday.

Bank of England policymakers say they expect the economy to

slow, perhaps sharply, this year and these figures are unlikely

to settle the debate on which way interest rates should go or

when given ongoing concerns about rising inflation.

KEY POINTS

- Lowest quarter-on-quarter growth since Q1 2005

- Weakest quarter on a year ago growth since Q2 2005

- Biggest quarterly fall in construction output since Q3 2005