The UK economy delivered a welcome surprise in November 2025, posting 0.3% growth and outpacing expectations.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that, despite a difficult autumn marked by weak sentiment and budget uncertainty, activity proved more resilient than many forecasters had assumed.
Jaguar Land Rover
A key driver of the rebound was the restart of manufacturing at Jaguar Land Rover, whose operations had been disrupted by a major cyberattack earlier in the year.
The phased return of production helped lift industrial output and provided a noticeable boost to overall GDP.
Services
Services — the backbone of the UK economy — also expanded by 0.3%, reversing October’s contraction and offering further evidence of stabilisation.
Although the three‑month growth figure remains a modest 0.1%, the monthly improvement has been widely interpreted as a sign that the economy may be edging away from stagnation.
Bank of England harder decision
Analysts note that the stronger‑than‑expected performance could ease some political pressure on the Treasury, even if it complicates the Bank of England’s path toward further interest‑rate cuts.
For now, November’s data provides a rare moment of optimism: a reminder that, despite persistent headwinds, the UK economy retains pockets of momentum that can still surprise on the upside.