UK Industrial Output Unexpectedly Falls

Industrial production in the UK fell 0.2% month-on-month in June 2026, defying market expectations of a 0.1% increase, albeit easing from a 0.7% drop in the previous month. Mining and quarrying output rebounded sharply (5.1% vs -5.1% in May), supported by a strong recovery in crude petroleum and natural gas extraction (6.2% vs -5.5%). In addition, declines eased in water supply, sewerage, and waste management activities (-1.5% vs -3.1%). On the other hand, manufacturing output remained under pressure (-0.5% vs -0.2%), weighed down primarily by production of basic pharmaceutical products and preparations (-5.1% vs 0.2%) and computer, electronic, and optical products (-0.9% vs 2.1%). On a quarterly basis, industrial production showed no growth. On a yearly basis, industrial output fell 0.2%, defying forecasts of 0.2% rise and reversing May’s 1% gain. It also marked the first annual decline since February.

Industrial production in the UK fell 0.5% month-on-month in May 2026, worse than market expectations of a 0.1% drop and reversing an upwardly revised 0.2% gain in the previous month. It marked the first monthly decline since January, driven by a sharp drop in mining and quarrying output (-4.6% vs 2.4% in April), with crude petroleum and natural gas extraction plunging 4.8% to its lowest level since records began in 1990. In addition, manufacturing growth slowed (0.1% vs 0.5%), led by weaker output in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and preparations (0.6% vs 4.3%). Overall production was also weighed down by a decline in water supply, sewerage and waste management (-2.4% vs 0.2%). Meanwhile, electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply fell at a much softer pace (-0.1% vs -2.1%). On a yearly basis, industrial production jumped to 1% in May from a revised flat reading in April, though it remained below market expectations of 1.2%.

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. .