Business investment in the United Kingdom rose by 1.7% quarter-on-quarter in the three months to June 2026, exceeding market expectations of a 0.5% decline and accelerating from 0.9% in the previous period, according to preliminary estimates. This marked the strongest growth since the first quarter of 2025, highlighting a continued recovery in corporate spending. The increase was largely driven by a significant rise in spending on ICT equipment and other machinery and equipment, while investment declined mainly in intellectual property products. On an annual basis, business investment grew 0.8% in the second quarter, rebounding from a 1.3% decline in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, overall gross fixed capital formation increased by 0.4% quarter-on-quarter and 1.6% year-on-year.