The UK economy edges higher in May, according to official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). GDP rises by 0.1% in May, following a 0.1% contraction in April. The May gain is reported to be in line with economists’ expectations. Several outlets describe the result as modest, noting that economic growth had been weakening after a stronger start to the year. The reports also link the broader economic backdrop to pressures associated with the Iran war, particularly through impacts on energy costs, which are described as affecting the economy even as GDP shows a small rebound. Taken together, the data point to a fragile pattern of month-to-month change: a decline in April is followed by a slight increase in May rather than a sustained acceleration. While the outlets differ in emphasis—some focusing on the war-related pressures and others on the moderation after early-year growth—they consistently report the same key ONS headline numbers for May and April.