Scotland's economy is lagging behind the UK despite continuing strong growth in the construction sector, official figures show.

Scottish gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.1% between April and June (Q2) 2015 compared with 0.7% growth across the UK as a whole, the latest Scottish Government economy report reveals.

On an annual basis, Scottish GDP grew by 1.9% in the year to June 2015 compared with 2.4% across the UK.

Growth in Scottish construction outstripped all other sectors growing by 3.5% in Q2 2015, with annual construction output 18.5% higher than last year.

This compares with more modest quarterly construction growth of 1.4% across the UK.

While the Scottish construction sector continues to perform well, quarterly growth has slowed from between 5% and 6% for most of last year.

Output in the services sector was flat and the production sector contracted by 0.8%.

The UK's current account balance has improved from a deficit of 5.2% of GDP in Q4 2014 to a deficit of 3.6% of GDP in Q2 2015, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS has also revealed UK mortgage borrowers are potentially exposed to changes in interest rates.

The average leverage of mortgage households has increased slightly during the economic recovery, although the fraction of households who are highly-leveraged with a debt to income ratio above 4.5 fell back slightly in 2013.

A quarter of highly-leveraged households were based in London in 2013 and a further 27% lived in the East and South East of England.

Liz Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: "An apparent contraction in the production sector has reduced Scotland's growth rate to its lowest level for three years.

"This is very concerning, particularly when measured against the healthy UK growth rate of 0.7% over the same period.

"This should act as a wake-up call to prove that we simply cannot take the growth of our businesses and our economy for granted, and that government policy, both at a UK and Scottish level, must be absolutely focused on creating an environment in which businesses can thrive."

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: "Today's statistics show continued growth in Scotland's economy, with three years of uninterrupted expansion even against a backdrop of economic challenges and headwinds.

"It is positive to see further growth in the construction sector as a result of continuing strong investment and support from public spending in Scotland.

"Likewise the healthy expansion in Q2 of the electricity and gas supply sector is a positive story for Scotland's economy.

"Nonetheless, the figures point to challenges in some sectors as a result of several factors, including subdued demand in the oil and gas sector and a normalising of some very strong trends in recent periods.

"There will be no let-up in the Scottish Government's commitment to securing economic growth and promoting Scotland as the best place to do business."

Andy Willox, the Federation of Small Businesses' (FSB) Scottish policy convenor, said: "Recent evidence from our members revealed a significant dip in small business confidence.

"Today's growth figures show that there's obviously still work to do to get Scotland's economy firing on all cylinders at a national and local level.

"We need to see Scotland's decision-makers focus on practical measures to ensure this economic sniffle doesn't become something more sinister."

Scottish Conservative enterprise spokesman Murdo Fraser said: "It is good to see the Scottish economy still growing but disappointing to see a dip in GDP compared to the growth the wider UK has enjoyed.

"On the back of recent surveys showing low business confidence in Scotland, this is more evidence that our economy is not doing as well as it should.

"These figures need to act as a wake-up call to the SNP. They need to stop obsessing about constitutional change and start using the powers that they have to deliver a stronger economy."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "Whilst the economy continues to grow across the UK, it seems to have almost flatlined in Scotland under the SNP.

"Instead of picking fights with Westminster, the First Minister must focus on securing Scottish growth in the economy, jobs and business."