UK economic growth held steady at 0.4% in the three months to July, according to the Office for National Statistics, matching the rate recorded for the three months to June. The figures land just days after Chancellor John Healey claimed there was an "optimistic story" behind the UK economy and pledged to "make Great Britain growth Britain" again, meaning the unchanged reading offers little fresh evidence to support his upbeat framing.

Services output rose by 0.6% over the period, driven largely by computer programming, with the ONS noting that businesses involved in AI-related technology had helped boost the sector; research and development, and rental and leasing, also contributed, while wholesaling fell notably. Production and construction both declined by 0.5%, partially offsetting the services gains. The ONS said warm weather and the Fifa World Cup continued to affect business activity, benefiting some sectors such as hospitality while creating challenges for others, echoing patterns seen in June when the economy grew 0.3% and GDP expanded by 0.4% over the second quarter as a whole.