The U.K. economy grew by 0.5% in February, according to preliminary figures from the Office for National Statistics published Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters expected U.K. gross domestic product (GDP) to have expanded by 0.1% month-on-month. Services and production both grew by 0.5%, and construction grew by 1% in February 2026. The rebound came after the economy grew by 0.1% in January (the first estimate suggested the economy had flatlined). The International Monetary Fund warned