UK GDP expected to show weak economic growth in Q4
- UK GDP is forecast to have eased a tad YoY in Q4 2025.
- The BoE expects the economy to expand by 0.9% in 2026.
- GBP/USD seems to have met firm resistance near 1.3900.
Markets will be watching closely on Thursday, when the United Kingdom’s (UK) Office for National Statistics (ONS) will release the advance estimate of Q4 Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
If the data land in line with consensus, the UK economy would have continued to grow at an annualised pace of 1.2%, compared with 1.3% recorded the previous year. If forecasts match, it would suggest a steady but uninspiring outcome, hinting that momentum is starting to level off. On a QoQ basis, GDP is expected to show a modest expansion of 0.2%, slightly above the 0.1% in Q3, reinforcing the idea of an economy still growing, but doing so with less energy.
The Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) expressed a slightly more optimistic outlook, projecting growth of approximately 1.5% for the entire year.
That said, the policy outlook remains finely balanced. Given the cooling labour market and slowing domestic inflation, markets anticipate a further 25 basis point rate cut from the ‘Old Lady’ at its March 19 meeting, provided that incoming data continues to support this view.
Projections for the UK GDP
The ONS reported that the UK economy grew by 0.1% QoQ in Q3 2025, matching the previous quarter’s prints. On a monthly basis, GDP grew by a healthier 0.3% in November, but momentum is expected to fade again, with output seen rising by only 0.1% in the final month of 2025.
The BoE’s latest meeting echoed the softer tone. Policymakers have downgraded their growth outlook and now expect GDP to expand by 0.2% in Q4 2025, up from a flat reading previously pencilled in for December but still pointing to a very subdued end to the year.
Inflation remains the more uncomfortable part of the picture. The UK maintains its leading position in the inflation league table among its major peers. The latest ONS data showed headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rising to 3.4% YoY in December. Core CPI eased only marginally to 3.2% YoY, while services inflation remained stubbornly high at 4.5%, underlining why policymakers remain cautious despite the clear loss of growth momentum.
When will the UK release Q3 GDP, and how could it affect GBP/USD?
The UK will release the preliminary Q4 2025 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on Thursday at 7:00 GMT.
Pablo Piovano, Senior Analyst at FXStreet, says, “GBP/USD appears to have met some decent resistance at the 2026 ceiling at 1.3868 (January 27).”
“If bulls push harder, Cable could challenge the minor hurdle at the 1.3900 round level, ahead of the July 2021 peak at 1.3983 (July 21) and the weekly high at 1.4001 (June 23, 2021),” Piovano adds.
“On the flip side, the loss of the February base at 1.3508 (February 6) could see the interim 55-day SMA at 1.3455 retested, closely followed by the significant 200-day SMA at 1.3429,” he concludes.
Economic Indicator
Gross Domestic Product (MoM)
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), released by the Office for National Statistics on a monthly and quarterly basis, is a measure of the total value of all goods and services produced in the UK during a given period. The GDP is considered as the main measure of UK economic activity. The MoM reading compares economic activity in the reference month to the previous month. Generally, a rise in this indicator is bullish for the Pound Sterling (GBP), while a low reading is seen as bearish.
Read more.Last release: Thu Jan 15, 2026 07:00
Frequency: Monthly
Actual: 0.3%
Consensus: 0.1%
Previous: -0.1%
Source: Office for National Statistics
Pound Sterling FAQs
The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, also known as ‘Cable’, which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the ‘Dragon’ as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE).
The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of “price stability” – a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall.
Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
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