The ONS reported that UK GDP grew by +0.3% in the three months to August 2025, compared with the three months to May 2025. This follows a growth of +0.2% in the three months to July 2025 and +0.3% in the three months to June 2025.
In the three months to August 2025, two of the three main sectors expanded. Services rose by +0.4%, making the largest contribution to GDP growth, while construction increased by +0.3%. In contrast, production output declined by -0.3%. However, within production, manufacturing output (the largest subsector) was flat compared with the three months to May 2025 (see the UK Manufacturing Output summary in this edition for more detail), while “electricity, gas, steam & air conditioning supply” fell by -2.6%, while, “water supply, sewerage, waste management & remediation activities” grew by +1.0%, and “mining & quarrying” grew by +0.2%.
Services output grew by 0.4% in the three months to August 2025, compared with the previous three month period. Output increased in 10 of 14 subsectors, led by “human health & social work” (+1.4%), driven by a +1.7% rise in health activities; “administrative & support service activities” (+1.4%), and “professional, scientific & technical activities” (+0.6%), supported by “architectural & engineering activities; technical testing & analysis” (+3.9%). These gains were partly offset by declines in “wholesale & retail trade; repair of motor vehicles & motorcycles” (-0.9%), “other service activities” (-2.3%) and “education” (-0.3%).
Consumer-facing services fell by -0.6% in the three months to August 2025, led by decreases in “travel agency, tour operator & other reservation service & related activities” (-7.6%), “other personal service activities” (-3.4%) and “buying & selling, renting & operating of own or leased real estate, excluding imputed rent (-1.0%) These declines were partly offset by growth in “accommodation” (+2.5%).
Construction output rose by +0.3% in the three months to August 2025 (with July revised to zero growth, down from the previously reported +0.2%). “Repair & maintenance” increased by +1.3%, while “new work” fell by -0.4% over the period. Within “repair & maintenance”, the strongest contribution came from “private housing repair & maintenance”, which grew by +5.6%. Within new work, the largest negative contribution came from “private housing new work”, which fell by -1.8%.
. There are more details in the range of ONS Statistical Bulletins which can be downloaded from their website at https://www.ons.gov.uk/releasecalendar (16th October) or on request from MTA.