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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Heather Stewart Economics editor

UK economy unexpectedly grows 0.4% in July boosted by AI

United Kingdom Economy John Healey GDP Inflation
A technician examines a server cabinet in a data centre lit by teal light
AI-improved productivity and increasing rollout in the UK has boosted GDP. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

The UK economy grew in July as the rapid expansion of AI appeared to outweigh the economic damage from the Iran war, in a welcome boost for John Healey.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a surprise 0.4% increase in gross domestic product (GDP), compared with 0.3% growth in June. City economists had forecast zero growth.

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