The UK economy grew by 0.6% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter, according to preliminary data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published on 14 May.
The growth came in line with the expectations of most economists, yet against a backdrop of intensifying external risks — most notably the armed conflict in the Middle East (Iran) — many analysts had forecast weaker figures. In Q4 2025, GDP grew by just 0.2% (revised).
Key details:
Annual growth: +1.1% compared to Q1 2025, beating forecasts.
GDP per capita also rose by 0.6% — the highest reading in four years.
Growth drivers: the services sector was the primary contributor (+0.8%), particularly wholesale and retail trade, computer programming, and advertising. Construction returned to growth (+0.4%), and manufacturing also posted a positive performance.
According to the ONS, the economy has expanded in every quarter for the past two years. The UK outpaced most G7 countries in quarterly growth rate.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has already described the data as confirmation of the government’s economic policy effectiveness. However, experts caution that the strong first-quarter figures may prove one-off: the impact of the Middle East conflict on global supply chains, energy prices, and inflation could materialise as early as the second quarter.