The UK economy grew by 0.7% in the third quarter of this year, the fastest rate for two years, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Overall GDP grew 1.9% in the three months ended September compared with a year earlier.
Grant Fitzner, chief economist for the ONS, said this was “almost entirely due to strong and widespread growth in the services sector”.
Within services, computer programming registered its fastest growth for the past three years – helped by cloud computing and spending on AI.
Fitzner added that the ONS was seeing evidence that “AI-linked businesses helped to boost growth”.
The figures outstripped expectations of 0.1% growth – made months ago – then 0.3% around the time of the recent Budget.
They come despite the impact of higher energy prices due to the war in the Middle East – with experts including BBC economics editor Faisal Islam pointing to resilience in the UK economy.
The UK is expected to be second only to the US for economic growth among the G7 countries.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the figures were “welcome news”.
“Despite a year where events around the world have pushed up costs here at home, our economy is growing, bringing hope for the future,” he said.
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