UK GDP increased by 0.5% month-on-month in February 2026, according to official data, marking the strongest monthly gain since January 2024. This followed a revised 0.1% rise in January and resulted in year-on-year GDP growth of 1.0%, the steepest annual expansion since September of the previous year.<\/p>\n
Growth was driven primarily by the services sector, which also rose 0.5% in February after a 0.1% increase in January. Within services, the largest positive contribution came from administrative and support service activities, which expanded by 2.0%, supported by a 2.5% rebound in employment activities. There were additional gains in wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles, up 0.7%. These improvements were partly offset by a 0.3% decline in accommodation and food services.<\/p>\n
Production output increased 0.5% in February, reversing prior declines. This was supported by a 3.9% rise in mining and quarrying and a 1.5% increase in energy supply. Manufacturing output, however, edged down 0.1%. The construction sector also contributed positively, with output rising 1.0%, led by private housing activity.<\/p>\n
Industrial production in the UK rose 0.5% month-on-month in February 2026, exceeding market expectations of a 0.2% increase and rebounding from a 0.1% decline in January. The improvement was underpinned by a sharp 3.9% recovery in mining and quarrying, driven by a 5.1% increase in the extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas. Electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply also expanded at a faster pace, up 1.5% after flat growth in January.<\/p>\n
By contrast, manufacturing output fell 0.1% in February, reversing a 0.2% increase in the previous month. The decline was mainly due to lower output in transport equipment and in basic metals and metal products, both down 2.1%, as well as a 1.2% drop in food products.<\/p>\n
On an annual basis, industrial activity in the UK decreased by 0.4% in February, following an upwardly revised 0.5% gain in the previous month. This indicates that, despite the monthly rebound, overall industrial production remained weaker than a year earlier.<\/p>\n
How much did UK GDP grow in February 2026?<\/strong> Which sectors contributed most to the GDP increase?<\/strong> How did UK industrial production perform in February 2026?<\/strong> What happened to manufacturing output in February 2026?<\/strong>
UK GDP expanded by 0.5% month-on-month in February 2026 and by 1.0% compared with February a year earlier.<\/p>\n
The main contributions came from services, particularly administrative and support service activities and wholesale and retail trade, alongside positive growth in production and construction.<\/p>\n
Industrial production rose 0.5% month-on-month, above expectations of a 0.2% increase, but fell 0.4% on an annual basis.<\/p>\n
Manufacturing output declined by 0.1% month-on-month, mainly due to lower production of transport equipment, basic metals and metal products, and food products.<\/p>\n