The UK economy defied US tariff pressures in the second quarter, expanding by 0.3% and outpacing most G7 peers despite a slowdown from the optimistic 0.7% growth seen earlier in the year. Strong performances in the services and construction sector helped drive the gains, offsetting a drop in manufacturing and other production sectors.
Compared with the same period last year, the economy expanded by 1.2%. While hardly spectacular, the performance has been enough to reassure policymakers and investors that the UK remains on a relatively stable path in a volatile global environment.
