UK Industrial Output Stalls in April

Industrial production in the UK stalled month-over-month in April 2026, missing market expectations for a 0.1% gain and following a 0.2% decline in the previous month. The flat reading reflected a sharp output drop in electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply (-3.2% vs –4.3% in March), alongside lower activity in water supply, sewerage and waste management (-0.5% vs -1.6%). At the same time, production growth in the manufacturing sector slowed (0.4% vs 1.2%), driven largely by lower output for electrical equipment (-5.5% vs 3.3%), transport equipment (-1.9% vs 2%), and computer, electronic and optical products (-1.0% vs 1.9%). This partly offset gains in mining and quarrying, which grew by 2.5%, after decreasing 2.3% in the prior month. On a yearly basis, industrial output fell 0.2% in April, surpassing market forecasts for a 0.2% decline and following a flat reading in the preceding period. .

Industrial production in the UK fell by 0.2% month-on-month in March 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 0.3% gain in February but coming in slightly better than market expectations of a 0.3% drop. The decline was primarily driven by contractions in mining and quarrying (-2.3% vs 4% in February) and electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply (-4.3% vs 0.9%), while water supply, sewerage and waste management declined further (-1.6% vs -0.2%). In contrast, manufacturing output rebounded to a four-month high of 1.2% from a 0.2% fall in February, mainly supported by recoveries in transport equipment (2% vs -2.1%) and basic metals and metal products (2.1% vs -1.7%), alongside a continued increase in basic pharmaceutical products and preparations (2.1% vs 0.5%). On a yearly basis, industrial output stalled, following an upwardly revised 0.5% fall in the previous month and missing market expectations of a 0.2% rise. During Q1 2026, industrial output increased by 0.2%.

Industrial production in the UK rose 0.5% month-on-month in February 2026, exceeding market expectations of a 0.2% increase and rebounding from a 0.1% fall in January. Output in mining and quarrying recovered sharply (3.9% vs -5.3% in January), led by extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas (5.1% vs -7.0%), while electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply increased at a faster pace (1.5% vs 0%). However, manufacturing production edged down 0.1%, after a 0.2% rise in the previous month, mainly due to lower output for transport equipment (-2.1% vs 3.6%), basic metals and metal products (-2.1% vs 0.7%), and food, beverages, and tobacco (-1.2% vs 2.0%). Growth in water supply, sewerage, and waste management also slowed (0.2% vs 1.5%). On an annual basis, industrial activity decreased by 0.4%, reversing an upwardly revised 0.5% gain but coming in below market expectations of a 0.9% drop.