16.07.202606:09:43UTC+00UK Economy Returns to Growth in May

The UK economy grew by 0.1% month-on-month in May 2026, matching market expectations and reversing the 0.1% contraction recorded in April. The expansion was driven entirely by a 0.3% rise in services output. Within services, professional, scientific and technical activities made the largest positive contribution, underpinned by solid gains in scientific research and development and in advertising services. Administrative and support services, as well as health activities, also recorded growth.

These improvements were sufficient to offset a 0.5% decline in production and a 0.8% drop in construction output. Over the three months to May, GDP increased by 0.7%, marking a sixth consecutive three‑month period of expansion. This was again led by services, which rose 0.7%, while construction grew by 1.6% and production edged up by 0.1%.

On an annual basis, GDP was 1.3% higher than a year earlier. Although this was slightly below the 1.4% growth expected by analysts, it represented the fastest pace of expansion since July 2025 and an acceleration from the downwardly revised 1.1% increase recorded in April.