News.am — The record-breaking June heatwave that swept across Europe has inflicted approximately $1.5 billion in damages on the UK economy. June 2026 was the hottest June ever recorded in Europe, and the extreme temperatures in England and Wales led to an estimated 2,700 additional deaths.
The high temperatures also severely impacted labor productivity, as people worked an average of about 30 minutes less than usual during the week starting June 22. The most notable reduction was observed among those engaged in physical labor, such as construction workers and agricultural laborers. Additionally, 3.6 percent of survey participants did not go to work at all during that period.
The economy will continue to feel the effects of the record summer heat for some time. Extreme temperatures accelerate the evaporation of moisture from the soil, and researchers from 12 European countries have concluded that this increases the likelihood of drought by 80 times. Declining crop yields, lower river water levels, and the negative impact of heat on the energy sector, including nuclear power, could later accelerate inflation.
