FX.co ★ UK Q3 Business Investment Growth Slows

Business investment in the United Kingdom rose by 0.4% quarter-on-quarter in the three months to September 2026, defying market expectations of a 0.2% decline, according to preliminary estimates. This represented a slowdown from the 1.8% increase recorded in the previous quarter, reflecting more moderate corporate spending. The loss of momentum was largely due to weaker investment in dwellings and in other machinery and equipment, while spending on transport equipment, ICT equipment, and intellectual property products rose sharply. On an annual basis, business investment grew by 3.0% in the third quarter, down from a one-year high of 5.2% in the second quarter. Meanwhile, overall gross fixed capital formation increased by 3.4% quarter-on-quarter and 3.1% year-on-year.