The S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI held steady at 53.7 in May 2026, unchanged from April and well above market expectations of 53, according to preliminary data. The reading matched the highest level since May 2022, with production growth accelerating to a three-month high amid sustained demand growth. Manufacturers reported increased activity from client pre-purchasing and stock-building, as well as elevated demand from data center rollouts. However, concerns about rising political and economic uncertainty persisted. Employment continued to decline, while inflationary pressures remained elevated and supply chains faced further disruptions from international shipping delays. The rate of stock accumulation hit its fastest pace since July 2022, with finished goods inventories also rising at an accelerated rate due to a build-up of pre-production stocks amid concerns over input costs and raw material availability. Still, business confidence improved slightly. source: S&P Global

Manufacturing PMI in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 53.70 points in May. Manufacturing PMI in the United Kingdom averaged 51.56 points from 2008 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 65.60 points in May of 2021 and a record low of 32.60 points in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Manufacturing PMI - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Manufacturing PMI in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 53.70 points in May. Manufacturing PMI in the United Kingdom is expected to be 51.30 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Manufacturing PMI is projected to trend around 52.00 points in 2027 and 51.80 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



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United Kingdom Manufacturing PMI
Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index measures the performance of the manufacturing sector and is derived from a survey of 600 industrial companies. The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index is based on five individual indexes with the following weights: New Orders (30 percent), Output (25 percent), Employment (20 percent), Suppliers’ Delivery Times (15 percent) and Stock of Items Purchased (10 percent), with the Delivery Times index inverted so that it moves in a comparable direction. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion of the manufacturing sector compared to the previous month; below 50 represents a contraction; while 50 indicates no change. This is only a limited sample of PMI headline data displayed on the Customer’s service, under licence from S&P Global. Full historic PMI headline data and all other PMI sub-index data and histories are available on subscription from S&P Global. Contact economics@spglobal.com for more details.

News Stream
UK Manufacturing Growth Holds at Highest Since 2022
The S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI held steady at 53.7 in May 2026, unchanged from April and well above market expectations of 53, according to preliminary data. The reading matched the highest level since May 2022, with production growth accelerating to a three-month high amid sustained demand growth. Manufacturers reported increased activity from client pre-purchasing and stock-building, as well as elevated demand from data center rollouts. However, concerns about rising political and economic uncertainty persisted. Employment continued to decline, while inflationary pressures remained elevated and supply chains faced further disruptions from international shipping delays. The rate of stock accumulation hit its fastest pace since July 2022, with finished goods inventories also rising at an accelerated rate due to a build-up of pre-production stocks amid concerns over input costs and raw material availability. Still, business confidence improved slightly.
2026-05-21
UK Manufacturing PMI Revised Slightly Higher
The S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI climbed to 53.7 in April 2026 from 51 in the prior month, slightly above the preliminary estimate of 53.6. This marked the highest reading since May 2022, as output expanded for the sixth time in seven months, supported by stronger new orders, backlog clearing, and a modest build-up in finished goods inventories. New orders grew at one of the fastest rates in four years, driven by both domestic and export demand. However, supply chain strains intensified, largely due to ongoing disruption linked to the closure of Strait of Hormuz amid prolonged Middle East conflict. As a result, input prices rose at its fastest rate since June 2022, marking one of the steepest increases recorded outside the post-pandemic spike. Finally, business optimism hit a one-year low as manufacturers grew increasingly concerned about the impact of the Middle East conflict on global growth, as well as geopolitical instability and government policy.
2026-05-01
UK Manufacturing PMI Surges to Near Four-Year High
The UK Manufacturing PMI jumped to 53.6 in April 2026 from 51.0 in March, exceeding expectations of 49.9 and marking the strongest expansion since May 2022. Production rebounded, and new orders edged higher, with firms reporting that customers accelerated orders and built safety stocks amid fears of rising prices and supply shortages. Employment rose for the first time since October 2024, but supplier lead times lengthened sharply, the worst vendor performance since June 2022. On pricing, input costs and output charges surged due to higher raw material and transport expenses. However, business sentiment weakened as firms grappled with inflation pressures and concerns over geopolitical tensions disrupting supply chains, consumer confidence, and investment.
2026-04-23