UK Manufacturing Output Unexpectedly Falls

Manufacturing production in the UK advanced by 1.2% month-on-month in March 2026, sharply exceeding market forecasts of a 0.2% decline and rebounding from a revised 0.2% fall in the previous month. Output increased in eight of the thirteen subsectors, with activity recovering in transport equipment (2% vs -2.1% in February), basic metals (2.1% vs -1.7%), rubber and plastic products (1.8% vs -0.4%), food, beverages and tobacco (1.1% vs -0.9%), textiles, wearing apparel and leather products (3.6% vs -3.9%), and wood and paper products (1.2% vs -0.4%). At the same time, output rose in basic pharmaceutical products (2.1% vs 0.5%), electrical equipment (3.3% vs 2.9%), and chemical products (2.9% vs 1.6%). Meanwhile, declines were recorded in computer, electronics and optical products (1.9% vs 2%). On a yearly basis, manufacturing production increased by 1.2% in March, against expectations of stagnation, recovering from a revised 0.8% decline in the preceding period.

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.