[Brief] AI Boom Drives Surprise 0.4% UK Growth in July
Official UK Office for National Statistics data showed the economy expanded 0.4% month-on-month in July 2026, significantly higher than the zero growth widely expected by analysts. AI-related investment and services sector performance were cited as the main drivers of the monthly growth. This unexpectedly positive reading provided some support for the UK economy, whose growth outlook has come under pressure recently, and once again highlighted the rising macroeconomic influence of artificial intelligence technology.