The article argues that the UK defied the pessimistic consensus: despite start-of-year fears of another energy shock, it was the strongest developed-market economy in H1 2026 while inflation faded. This implies UK macro resilience became the nonconsensus outcome, with markets likely forced to reassess a bearish UK energy-shock narrative.
•At the start of 2026, the consensus was reportedly expecting another energy shock.
•The article states that the UK was the strongest economy in the developed world over the first half of 2026.
•UK inflation was fading over that same first-half period.