UK's economy shows signs of slowing

London - Britain's economy grew by 2.6% in 2014 - its fastest pace since the start of the global financial crisis, official figures showed on Tuesday.

But while the yearly rate was the best since 2007 - and up from 1.7% in 2013 - quarterly figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed growth slowing - from 0.7% in the third quarter to 0.5% in the fourth.

The ONS said it was "too early to say" if the slowdown had set in and the recovery would falter.

Britain's gross domestic product had grown by 0.9% in the second quarter.

After boasting that he had presided over the fastest growth of any major economy in 2014, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne warned that the "international climate is getting worse".

Growth in the final quarter came mostly from the services sector, while manufacturing and construction remained lacklustre.

Labour Party shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the figures for the final quarter showed government "claims that the economy is fixed will ring hollow with working people".

With 100 days to go before a general election, opinion polls underline the prospect of a closely fought contest with another minority government the most likely outcome.

Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative-led coalition is campaigning on its record for economic management while Labour leader Ed Miliband is promising more money for the cash-strapped National Health Service.