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Business investment

Business investment as a share of GDP — a key driver of long-run productivity and economic growth.

18 % GDP
+1.2% vs previous period

As of 2024-Q4

Historical trend

17 18 18 2022-Q12023-Q32024-Q4

Trend summary

UK business investment grew 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2024 and is 7% above its pre-pandemic level in volume terms.

Trend

  • Business investment fell sharply in 2020 and has recovered unevenly; it remains below the pre-financial-crisis growth trend.
  • The UK investment-to-GDP ratio is among the lowest in the G7, at around 10% compared with 14–16% in France and Germany.
  • Investment in intellectual property has grown faster than machinery and structures since 2015.

Context

  • ONS business investment data excludes government investment and dwellings; it covers tangible and intangible assets.
  • Quarterly figures are volatile and subject to significant revision.

Trend summary generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 on 31 January 2025. Contains no editorial judgement — describes direction, magnitude, and official projections only.

G7 comparison

🇯🇵 Japan
24 % GDP
🇫🇷 France
24 % GDP
🇨🇦 Canada
23 % GDP
🇩🇪 Germany
22 % GDP
🇺🇸 United States
21 % GDP
🇮🇹 Italy
21 % GDP
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
18 % GDP

About this indicator

Source
ONS
Update frequency
Quarterly
Last updated
31 January 2025 Data may be out of date
Licence
OGL v3
Rising trend is…
Positive

Statistics

Latest
18.3 % GDP
Period high
18.3
Period low
17.2
Period average
17.6