Latest figures
Charts
Growth, prices, jobs and public finances. Blue and red chart bands mark Conservative and Labour governments.
GDP Growth Rate
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Notes
The UK economy grew by 0.5% in April to June 2026, the latest full quarter, revised up from a first estimate of 0.4%. Monthly figures show growth of 0.1% in August and 0.7% over the three months to August. The first estimate for July to September is due on 12 November 2026.
CPI Inflation
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Notes
UK CPI inflation was 3.1% in August 2026, up from 2.9% in July, with motor fuel the biggest upward pressure. It peaked at 11.1% in October 2022. The Bank of England's target is 2%.
Gross Domestic Product
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Notes
The UK economy produces around £3 trillion of output a year in cash terms. These figures are not adjusted for inflation.
Unemployment Rate
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Notes
The UK unemployment rate was 4.9% in May to July 2026, 0.2 percentage points higher than a year earlier. The ONS says recent estimates are less reliable than usual because of problems collecting Labour Force Survey data.
Labour Productivity
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Notes
Output per hour worked, the main driver of long-term pay growth. UK productivity has barely grown since the 2008 financial crisis and lags France, Germany and the US.
Bank of England Base Rate
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Notes
The Bank of England base rate is 3.75%. It was held on 17 September 2026, with three of the nine committee members voting for a rise to 4%, and was last changed with a cut in December 2025. It peaked at 5.25% in 2023.
Real Wage Growth
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Notes
Pay is still rising faster than prices: total pay including bonuses was 3.9% higher in May to July 2026 than a year earlier, or 0.9% to 1.1% higher after inflation depending on the measure used. Real pay fell sharply in 2022.
Government Borrowing
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Notes
The government borrowed £77.3 billion in the five months to August 2026, £2.2 billion less than a year earlier but £8.1 billion more than the official forecast. Net debt was just under £3 trillion, equal to 93.8% of GDP.
Average UK House Price
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The average UK house price was £273,000 in July 2026, up 1.4% on a year earlier. Prices in London fell 3.3% over the year while the North East rose 4.9%.
Sources and definitions
Every series on this page is pulled directly from official sources - the Office for National Statistics for GDP, inflation, unemployment, productivity, wages and borrowing, the Bank of England for the base rate, and HM Land Registry for house prices - and refreshes automatically as new figures are published. Most series update monthly or quarterly on fixed release dates.
Two habits make official economic data easier to read. First, recent figures are provisional: early GDP and migration-sensitive labour market estimates are routinely revised, so the newest points on any chart are the least certain. Second, where charts carry party bands, they show who was in office - but economic outcomes reflect global conditions and long lags as well as government policy, so bands are context, not attribution.
Nine indicators that together tell the story of the UK economy: whether it's growing, what's happening to prices, jobs and pay, what borrowing costs, and where house prices and the public finances stand. Party bands show who was in government - context for the trends, though the global economy rarely respects election dates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK inflation rate?
UK CPI inflation was 3.1% in August 2026, up from 2.9% in July and down from a peak of 11.1% in October 2022. The Bank of England's target is 2%. The next figures are due on 21 October 2026.
What is the current Bank of England base rate?
The Bank of England base rate is 3.75%. The Monetary Policy Committee held it on 17 September 2026, and it has not changed since it was cut in December 2025. It peaked at 5.25% in 2023. The next decision is due on 5 November 2026.
What is the average house price in the UK?
The average UK house price was £273,000 in July 2026, up 1.4% on a year earlier, according to the UK House Price Index. August figures are due on 21 October 2026.
What is the difference between GDP growth and the GDP level?
The growth chart shows the quarterly percentage change in real GDP, which tells you whether the economy is expanding or contracting. The GDP level chart shows total nominal output in pounds, which illustrates the overall size of the economy over time.