UK Economy Defies War Fears but Iran Conflict and Trade Tensions Loom

The UK economy is proving remarkably resilient, defying predictions that the Iran war would deliver the heaviest blow among advanced nations. GDP grew 0.4% in the second quarter, following a 0.6% surge in Q1, making Britain the fastest-growing economy in the G7 for the first half of 2026. Business investment jumped 1.7%, driven largely by tech sector spending on artificial intelligence, while consumer spending was buoyed by summer heatwaves and England's World Cup...