15.10.202606:14:22UTC+00UK Manufacturing Output Unexpectedly Rises in August

UK manufacturing output rose by 1.2% month-on-month in August 2026, defying market expectations for a 0.1% decline and building on a revised 1.0% increase in July. This was the strongest monthly expansion since March, with output rising in nine of the thirteen manufacturing subsectors.

The largest positive contribution came from the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products, which grew by 5.1% (up from 3.4% in July) and accounted for more than half of the total monthly growth in manufacturing. There were also notable increases in rubber and plastic products and other non-metallic mineral products (2.1% vs. -2.3% previously), machinery and equipment (2.0% vs. 1.0%), and wood and paper products (3.2% vs. -0.8%).

These gains were partly offset by declines in food products, beverages and tobacco (-1.0% vs. 0.4% in July) and in coke and refined petroleum products (-1.8% vs. 0%).

On a yearly basis, manufacturing output climbed 3.0% in August, the fastest pace since March 2024. This exceeded market forecasts of 2.3% and marked an acceleration from the 2.2% annual increase recorded in the previous month.