Scottish Economic Bulletin: November 2026

Output

• Economic growth remained resilient in the three months to August, although the pace of growth moderated compared with the three months to July. Scotland’s GDP grew 0.3% in the three months to August (UK: 0.7%), moderately down from the three months to July (0.6%). Over the past year, Scotland’s GDP has grown by 1.3% (UK: 1.8%).^[1],[2]



• At a sector level, growth in the three months to August was driven by the Services sector (0.7%), while both the Production (-1.7%) and Construction (-0.9%) sectors contracted over the period.
• Services sector output grew by 0.7% in the three months to August 2026, easing from growth of 0.9% in the three months to July. Consumer-facing services output grew by 0.2%, down from 0.9% in the previous three-month period. Growth in the sector was supported by Wholesale, Retail & Motor Trades (0.4%), Accommodation & Food Services (0.4%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (0.6%). On an annual basis, the Services sector output increased by 1.7%.
• Production sector output contracted by 1.7% in the three months to August, marking the steepest decline since the start of the year. The fall was driven by contractions across all four subsectors, with the largest decreases in Water Supply & Waste Management (-3.7%), Manufacturing (‑1.6%), Electricity & Gas Supply (-1.5%) and Mining & Quarrying (-0.9%). On an annual basis, Production output has grown 0.2% in the three months to August.



• Construction sector output contracted for a second time this quarter by 0.9% in the 3-months to August, following 0.3% growth over the second quarter. Construction growth overall remains subdued, with output falling by 1.6% on an annual basis in the 3-months to August.