How sport and AI gave UK economy a surprise summer boost

• The UK economy grew by 0.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, upgraded from a previous estimate of 0.4 per cent due to strong services sector output.
• Warm weather and the start of the World Cup helped boost trade in June, while an AI spending boom contributed to a surprise 0.4 per cent GDP growth in July.
• The Office for National Statistics revised overall economic growth for 2025 down to 1.2 per cent from 1.3 per cent following revisions to earlier data.
• Experts warn that rising energy and fuel prices caused by the war in Iran will slow economic growth during the second half of the year.
• Household energy bills are forecast to rise by 16 per cent in January, marking the largest single increase in four years.

IN FULL

UK economy grew ‘slightly larger’ than expected in pre-Budget boost to John Healey