UK GDP Surprises and Global Meetings in Focus

The UK economy showed resilience with a stronger-than-expected GDP performance, while global attention turns to high-stakes meetings between world leaders. The economic calendar is packed with significant data releases that could influence market movements today.

What's on the calendar

The UK reported a preliminary GDP growth of 0.6% for the first quarter of 2026, aligning with expectations and marking an improvement from the previous quarter's 0.1% growth. The monthly GDP for March also exceeded forecasts, rising by 0.3% against an expected decline of 0.2%. In the US, key data releases include Core Retail Sales and Retail Sales figures, both expected to show slower growth compared to the previous month. Additionally, unemployment claims are anticipated to rise slightly to 205,000 from 200,000.

What's moving

The UK economy's better-than-expected performance in the first quarter is a positive signal amid challenges such as rising energy prices. The services sector was a significant contributor, with a 0.8% increase in output. Meanwhile, the global spotlight is on the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. This meeting is crucial as it could impact trade relations and market sentiment.

Bottom line

Today's market focus is on the UK's robust GDP figures and the potential implications of the Trump-Xi summit. Investors will also be closely watching US retail sales data for further economic insights.

This brief is a snapshot of public commentary at the time of writing — not financial advice.