Only one other G7 member is growing faster than Britain right now.

This is according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics, reported first by the BBC. It is a faster rate than the previous quarter, and the strongest reading in over two years.

Services drove most of the expansion.

The sector covers everything from consultancy to hotels and restaurants. Computer programming had its best quarter in three years, a jump officials linked to spending on AI tools.

What's driving the growth?

Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said growth could have been even stronger without the war in the Middle East.

Families may not feel the benefit directly, he cautioned. Inflation and wages have a bigger day-to-day impact than the headline number.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the figures "welcome news".

He added: "Despite a year where events around the world have pushed up costs here at home, our economy is growing, bringing hope for the future."

On this reading, only one other G7 member is growing faster than Britain right now. The rest of the group, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy and France, all lag behind.

UK economy growth and the cost of living

Not every forecaster is convinced the pace holds.

Jake Finney, a senior economist at PwC, warned growth is likely to slow in the coming months unless energy markets stabilise.

He pointed to a sharp rise in bills expected in January that could hit household spending.

That comes against a backdrop of a council confirming plans to hike council tax by an 'outrageous' 94%.

Bills are rising even as the wider economy grows.