News Brief · United Kingdom · Published 23 Aug 2026, 07:29
GDP first quarterly estimate, UK: April to June 2026
UK real GDP grew by 0.4% in Quarter 2 2026, with output higher than in the same quarter a year earlier.
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The Office for National Statistics estimated that UK real GDP grew by 0.4% in Quarter 2 2026, after growth of 0.6% in Quarter 1. GDP was 1.2% higher than a year earlier.
What happened
UK real GDP grew by 0.4% in Quarter 2 2026. The previous quarter recorded growth of 0.6%, while the level of GDP was 1.2% higher than in the same quarter a year earlier.
Why it matters
Quarterly GDP gives a broader view of UK economic performance than a single monthly estimate. Persistent growth or contraction affects employment, incomes, business confidence and policy choices.
Economic context
For A-Level Economics, this is strong UK evidence for economic growth, living standards, cyclical performance and demand-management policy. Compare quarter-on-quarter growth with the annual comparison to avoid overstating short-term movements.
Key data
- Year-on-year real GDP
- 1.2%
- Previous-quarter real GDP
- 0.6%
- Quarter-on-quarter real GDP
- 0.4%
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