2026.05.1406:24:29UTC+00UK Manufacturing Output Unexpectedly Rises in March

UK manufacturing output rose by 1.2% month-on-month in March 2026, sharply beating market expectations for a 0.2% decline and rebounding from a revised 0.2% fall in February. Production increased in eight of the thirteen subsectors, with notable recoveries in transport equipment (up 2.0% 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%).

Output also strengthened in basic pharmaceutical products (2.1% vs 0.5%), electrical equipment (3.3% vs 2.9%), and chemical products (2.9% vs 1.6%). In contrast, production declined in computer, electronics and optical products (down 1.9% vs a 2.0% increase previously). On an annual basis, manufacturing output rose by 1.2% in March, confounding expectations of zero growth and recovering from a revised 0.8% contraction in the prior period.