UK GDP fell 0.1% in April as Middle East conflict weighed on growth

UK real GDP contracted 0.1% month-on-month in April 2026. A slowdown in services activity drove the decline, and firms cited pressure from the Middle East conflict linked to Iran as a factor weighing on growth.

Conflict linked to Iran raises geopolitical risk and can push oil prices and safe-haven demand higher, supporting gold and weighing on risk assets such as equities. Weakness in UK services reduces economic momentum and may hurt market sentiment; effects on FX and crypto are likely more limited in the near term.