UK Manufacturing Output Unexpectedly Falls

Manufacturing production in the UK edged down 0.1% month-on-month in February 2026, against market forecasts of a 0.3% rise and reversing an upwardly revised 0.2% gain in January. Output dropped in six of the thirteen subsectors, with the largest negative contributions coming from transport equipment (-2.1% vs 3.6% in January), basic metals and metal products (-2.1% vs 0.7%), and food, beverages, and tobacco (-1.2% vs 2.0%). Decreases were also recorded in textiles, wearing apparel, and leather products (-4.6% vs 1.6%), rubber and plastics and non-metallic mineral products (-0.3% vs -1.1%), and coke and refined petroleum (-0.4% vs -1.6%). These declines, however, were partially offset by a strong rebound in machinery and equipment (3.9% vs -7.0%), electrical equipment (6.3% vs -9.0%), and computer, electronic, and optical products (1.6% vs -3.0%). On a yearly basis, manufacturing output fell 0.5%, more than market forecasts of a 0.3% drop and reversing a 1.3% growth in January.

Manufacturing production in the UK edged up by 0.1% month-on-month in January 2026, rebounding from a 0.5% fall in the previous month but falling short of market forecasts of a 0.2% gain. The recovery was largely driven by increases in five of the thirteen manufacturing subsectors, with the largest positive contributions coming from the manufacture of transport equipment (4.0% vs -1.1%), other manufacturing and repair (4.5% vs -2%), and food products, beverages and tobacco (2.2% vs -1.4%). Additionally, output rebounded for chemicals and chemical products (1.5% vs -5%) and basic metals and metal products (0.5% vs -0.8%). On the other hand, the largest negative contributions came from machinery and equipment (-7.7% vs 2.6%), electrical equipment (9.0% vs 4.9%) and computer, electronic and optical products (-2.8% vs 5.6%). On a yearly basis, manufacturing activity rose by 1.3% in January, accelerating from a 0.5% gain in the preceding period but below market estimates of a 1.5% advance.

Manufacturing production in the UK fell by 0.5% month-on-month in December 2025, slipping from a downwardly revised and nine-month high of 1.9% gain in the previous month and falling short of market expectations for no change. The latest figure marked the first month decline in manufacturing activity since September, weighed down by decreases in eight of the thirteen manufacturing sub-sectors, with the largest negative contribution coming from the manufacture of basic pharmaceuticals (-2.6%), food products (-1.4%), and chemical products (-5%). Output also declined for wood and paper products and printing (-2.8%), transport equipment (-1.1%), and other manufacturing and repair (-2%). In contrast, production increased for computer, electronic and optical products (5.6%) and electrical equipment (4.9%). On a yearly basis, manufacturing activity rose by 0.5% in December, slowing from a downwardly revised 1.3% gain in November and well below market forecasts of a 1.8% increase.