UK GDP rises 0.2 monthonmonth in April, as expected
Retail and film industries among largest contributors
Markets show little reaction to data
Broader trend shows scant growth but no recession so far

LONDON, June 14 Reuters Retailers and the film industry helped Britain39;s economy inch higher in April, despite contractions in manufacturing and construction, according to data on Wednesday that pointed to slow growth rather than recession.

Britain39;s economy grew by 0.2 monthonmonth in April, the Office for National Statistics said, matching the consensus in a Reuters poll of economists.

Financial markets showed little reaction to the figures in contrast to recent labour market and inflation data which boosted expectations for higher interest rates from the Bank of England.

Wednesday39;s data chimed with business surveys that point to weak activity but no recession which had been widely predicted only a few months ago.

Over the three months to April, Britain39;s economy expanded just 0.1 a low growth trajectory according to the British Chambers of Commerce.

Looking ahead, we continue to expect GDP in Q2 as a whole to be unchanged from Q1, said Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at consultancy Pantheon Macroeconomics.

Public sector strikes have continued to rumble on, and the lost working day for the King39;s coronation probably inflicted a 0.2 percentage point blow to GDP in May, Tombs added.

The health sector was the biggest drag on growth in April, when…