Brexit's decade: UK housing gains mask stalled growth and energy shocks

Ten years after the referendum, the UK economy shows a stark divergence between property wealth and underlying productivity, as energy costs continue to weigh on consumers.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-06-23 10:24 UTC · 1 min read

A decade has passed since the UK voted to leave the European Union, and the economic legacy remains a study in contrasts.

While house prices have risen significantly since the 2016 referendum, broader economic growth has stalled, leaving the country grappling with the long-term structural impacts of its departure from the single market.

The Independent’s review of the last ten years highlights this divergence.

The housing market, often seen as a barometer of household wealth, has seen value increases that have insulated many homeowners from the worst of the economic slowdown.

However, this asset inflation has not translated into widespread prosperity or robust GDP expansion, with productivity growth remaining a persistent challenge for policymakers.

Compounding the structural drag from Brexit is the recent surge in energy prices.