Gross domestic product was 2.9% lower than in December, a much smaller contraction than forecast in a Reuters poll of economists.

國內生產總值比12月下降2.9%，比路透社對經濟學家的調查中預測的萎縮幅度小得多。

The Bank of England has predicted the economy will shrink by 4% in the first quarter of this year, but it's expected to keep its stimulus programs on hold at the end of its meeting next Thursday.

英國央行預測今年第一季度經濟將萎縮4%，但預計下週四會議結束時，英國央行將維持刺激計劃。

It's thought the central bank will predict that Britain's vaccination program, Europe's fastest, will trigger a bounce back in the economy.

據認為，央行將預測英國的疫苗接種計劃，歐洲最快，將引發經濟反彈。

But there were some red flags in Friday's data.

但在週五的數據中，也出現了一些危險的信號。

Trade with the European Union was hit hard at the start of the country's post Brexit trading relationship.

在該國脫歐後的貿易關係開始時，與歐盟的貿易受到重創。

Exports and imports from Britain to the EU plunged by the most on record, although the Office for National Statistics said there was a delay in gathering some data.

英國對歐盟的出口和進口創下歷史最大跌幅，不過國家統計局表示，在收集一些數據時出現了延遲。

Exports for goods to the EU, excluding non monetary, gold and other precious metals, slumped by over 40% while imports fell by nearly 29% The O.

對歐盟的商品出口，不包括非貨幣、黃金和其他貴金屬，下滑了40%以上，而進口下降了近29% O。

N S said the overall GDP figures were hit mostly by the impact of social distancing rules on Britain's huge services sector, Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to ease restrictions gradually before lifting most of them by late June.

N S表示，整體GDP數據主要是受到英國龐大的服務業社交疏遠規則的影響，首相鮑里斯-約翰遜計劃在6月底之前逐步放鬆限制，然後再取消大部分限制。