UK GDP grew 0.4 per cent in Q2 2026, ONS figures show

Official data show the UK economy expanded 0.4 per cent between April and June 2026, leaving output 1.2 per cent higher than a year earlier, with services and construction leading the way.

The UK economy grew by 0.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics — half the pace recorded in the first quarter, when GDP expanded by 0.6 per cent. Year-on-year, the figures show output was 1.2 per cent higher than in Q2 2025.

The result matched City forecasts exactly, with market coverage on 13 August 2026 reporting that analysts had pencilled in 0.4 per cent ahead of publication. Services drove the bulk of the quarterly gain, rising 0.5 per cent, while construction added 0.3 per cent. Production was flat at 0.0 per cent. Monthly GDP growth in June helped push the overall quarter’s result over the line.

A clean match with consensus — no surprise either way.

For Kent businesses, the indirect effects are what matter here. There’s no Kent-specific policy attached to these numbers, but stronger UK-wide growth can feed through into demand for goods and services across the county’s retail, hospitality, construction and transport sectors. Firms trading with London and the wider South East may also find business confidence — and with it, hiring and investment decisions — a little firmer if the growth momentum holds into Q3.

The Confederation of British Industry posted the figures on 13 August 2026, framing them as evidence of continued growth after a strong start to the year. The ONS data broadly support that reading, though the easing from 0.6 per cent to 0.4 per cent between quarters suggests the pace has moderated rather than accelerated.