Growth in the UK was at a faster pace than many had expected at the beginning of the year, 0.6% in the first quarter of the year.
The data from the Office for National Statistics show the UK outpaced the rest of the G7. The US and Japan were close behind, with quarterly growth of 0.5%, while Italy and Germany both grew by 0.3%.
Canada stagnated, while France is on the brink of a technical recession after its GDP fell by 0.1% in Q1 2026.
The UK figures were boosted as firms rushed to stockpile goods while activity rose rapidly just as tensions in Venezuela and the Middle East flared up, according to official figures. The UK economy declined by 0.1% in April, the second month of the Iran war.
Business investment came to around 0.9% in the first quarter of the year, which was also slightly higher than expected.
The Office for National Statistics said growth in 2025 was slightly lower than previously thought at 1.3% rather than 1.4%.
Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said: “Services were the main driver of growth in the latest quarter, with strengths in computer programming, wholesale and advertising only offset by falls in rental companies and recruitment agencies.”
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