16.04.202606:15:04UTC+00UK GDP Unexpectedly Accelerates in February

The UK economy grew by 0.5% month-over-month in February 2026, picking up from a revised 0.1% increase in January and delivering the strongest monthly expansion since January 2024. Growth was broad-based, driven primarily by services, which also rose 0.5% (up from 0.1% in January).

Within services, the largest positive contribution came from administrative and support service activities, which increased by 2.0%, boosted in particular by a 2.5% rebound in employment-related services. There were also gains in wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles (+0.7%). These advances were partially offset by a 0.3% decline in accommodation and food services.

Production output grew by 0.5%, reversing previous declines. This was supported by strong increases in mining and quarrying (+3.9%) and in energy supply (+1.5%), despite a modest fall in manufacturing output (-0.1%).

The construction sector expanded by 1.0%, driven mainly by growth in private housing activity.

On an annual basis, GDP increased by 1.0%, marking the fastest year-on-year growth since September of the previous year.