The UK has officially moved out of the recession, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
The UK economy grew by 0.3% in the last quarter of 2009, preceded by a 0.2% fall in the third quarter.
Over the whole year, the economy contracted by 4.8%, the worst contraction of any single year for 90 years.
NIESR said that despite the improvement the recovery ahead will be slow and continue to be difficult.