The United Kingdom (UK) economic growth expanded by 0.3% in the second quarter of this year, down from 0.7% growth recorded in the preceding quarter of the year.
According to official growth data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday, the biggest contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the quarter came from services while the construction industry also grew.
The BBC reported that government had made boosting economic growth a key priority and the latest data surpassed analysts’ forecasts of 0.1% expansion, which would have put the economy on near stagnation state.
The news medium quoted Chancellor Rachel Reeves as saying that the figures “beat expectations”, adding that there is “still more to do” so people in all parts of the country benefit from growth.
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According to the ONS, the economy performed better than expected in June, as it also revised up figures for April – instead of shrinking by 0.3%, it now said the economy contracted by 0.1%.
In the services sector, computer programming including consultancy, software installation and disaster recovery helped push up growth even as Vehicle rentals and Health services such as doctors’ surgeries, hospitals and nursing homes also boosted the economy.
The ONS data reflected that Retailing dragged on growth over the period but picked up towards the end.
Some Experts suggested that hot, dry weather helped lift activity in the construction industry, which expanded by 1.2% in the three months to June.
The BBC reported that compared with other members of the G7 – the world’s richest nations – the UK economy grew the fastest in the first three months of the year, but not in Q2 2025
However, it reported that taken together, the UK may have had the fastest growth in the first half of 2025.
