UK Economy Defies War Fears but Autumn Challenges Loom

The UK economy expanded by 0.4% in the second quarter, slowing from a 0.6% jump in Q1 but still making Britain the fastest-growing economy in the G7 for the first half of 2026. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) noted that higher oil prices from the Iran war have fed through to inflation, but there is “limited evidence” of broader second‑order effects. Consumer spending got a lift from the England men’s football team’s World Cup run and the **fifth...