See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER (DIGITAL) and DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 07:13 BST, 11 September 2026 | Updated: 10:22 BST, 11 September 2026
Thirsty football fans watching Harry Kane lead England to another World Cup semi-final during a heatwave helped prop up the UK economy in July, new figures revealed today.The rate of UK economic growth was unchanged last month as consumers and workers swapped spending in shops and slaving in the heat for drinking in pubs.In a surprise to economists, Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.4 per cent in the three months to July – the same rate as for the three months to June, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.Services grew by 0.6 per cent over the same period, but production and construction both fell by 0.5 per cent as workers downed tools to watch matches and avoid temperatures in the high 30s.ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said: 'Growth remained relatively robust in the latest three months, as ongoing strength in the services sector was only partially offset by falls in both production and construction.'Within services, computer programming was the largest contributor, continuing the strong growth seen throughout the year, with evidence that businesses involved with AI and related technologies helped to boost this sector.'Continuing recent trends, research and development and rental and leasing also helped drive growth, while wholesaling saw a notable fall.'Looking at the latest month, services also drove growth in July, with computer programming again making the largest contribution.'Separately, as in June, some businesses reported that the warm weather and Fifa World Cup had affected their activity, although effects differed across industries, benefitting some businesses while creating challenges for others.' The rate of UK economic growth was unchanged last month as consumers and workers swapped spending in shops and slaving in the heat for drinking in pubs
