UK August GDP Beats Forecasts With 0.1% Growth, Lifting Pound to $1.3250

The British pound rose 0.44% to $1.3250 after the UK economy expanded 0.1% month-over-month in August, according to the Office for National Statistics. The reading beat consensus projections for a 0.1% contraction, though it decelerated from July's 0.4% expansion. On a rolling three-month basis, GDP growth climbed to 0.7%, outpacing expectations of 0.5%, with annual growth reaching 2.1%. August's performance was driven by production and manufacturing, which climbed 1.2%, while the dominant services sector remained flat at 0.0% and construction output contracted by 0.2%.