UK Q1 2026 GDP rose +0.6% QoQ and +1.1% YoY on broad sectoral strength. But the monthly trade deficit blew out to -£27.2bn against a -£19.8bn forecast, tariff front-running that complicates the read and the Bank of England's rate path.
UK GDP grew 0.6% in Q1 2026, the strongest quarterly pace in a year as services and construction drove the expansion according to the Office for National Statistics Source
