16th Apr 2026 07:19
(Alliance News) - The UK economy expanded in February, supported by broad-based growth across services and production, according to data from the Office for National Statistics on Thursday.
Gross domestic product rose 0.5% in the three months to February 2026, picking up from 0.3% growth in the three months to January and following flat growth in the three months to December.
The reading exceeded the FXStreet-cited consensus of a 0.3% increase.
The January figure was revised up from 0.2%, while December was revised down from 0.1%.
On a monthly basis, GDP grew 0.5% in February, accelerating from 0.1% growth in both January and December and coming in well above the FXStreet consensus for another 0.1% increase. January was revised up from originally reported no growth or decline.
Services output, the largest component of the economy, increased 0.5% in the three months to February, with gains driven by sectors including wholesale & retail trade and information & communication.
Production output rose 1.2% over the same period, supported by manufacturing and energy supply, while construction output fell 2.0%, extending recent declines.
In February alone, services and production both rose 0.5%, while construction rebounded with a 1.0% increase.
Separate figures showed mixed trade performance in February. Goods imports rose by GBP2.3 billion, or 4.7%, reflecting higher inflows from both EU and non-EU countries, while goods exports fell by GBP500 million, or 1.5%.
Exports to the US rose by GBP500 million, while imports from the country declined by GBP400 million.
Over the three months to February, the UK's total trade deficit in goods and services narrowed by GBP300 million to GBP2.8 billion.
However, the goods deficit widened by GBP1.0 billion to GBP57.1 billion, offset by a GBP1.3 billion increase in the services surplus to GBP54.2 billion.
By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News reporter
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