UK economy beats forecasts with growth in March Newsflash: The UK economy kept growing in March, despite the economic damage caused by the Iran war. UK GDP rose by 0.3% in March 2026, the Office for National Statistics has reported, beating forecasts of a contraction of 0.2%. That follows growth of 0.4% in February and no growth in January (revised down from growths of 0.5% and 0.1% previously estimated). The ONS adds. double quotation mark Services and construction output both grew, by 0.3% and 1.5%, respectively - these growths were partially offset by a 0.2% fall in production.…