UK GDP grows 0.7% in strongest quarter since early 2024

The UK economy grew 0.7% in the third quarter of 2026, its strongest calendar-quarter expansion since the start of 2024, as services activity increased, official figures showed Thursday. Growth accelerated from 0.5% in the second quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Services output rose 0.9% between July and September. Computer programming and consultancy grew 4.4%, its fastest rate in three years. The ONS said programming was a major contributor to growth and reported evidence that businesses linked to artificial intelligence and cloud computing were among those recording the largest turnover increases.

ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner said the economy’s growth was almost entirely due to strong, widespread services activity. He said the agency continued to see evidence that AI-linked businesses helped boost the programming sector. The figures do not quantify how much of overall GDP growth was directly attributable to AI-related activity.

Production output increased 0.1% in the quarter, while construction output fell 0.7%. The services sector includes activities ranging from hospitality and leisure to professional and financial services, real estate and...