15.10.202606:24:22UTC+00UK Industrial Output Hits 9-Month High

Industrial production in the UK rose by 0.8% month-on-month in August 2026, up from an upwardly revised 0.3% increase in July and confounding market expectations of a 0.1% decline. This was the strongest monthly expansion since November 2025.

The improvement was largely driven by stronger manufacturing output, which grew 1.2% compared with 1.0% in July. Within manufacturing, basic pharmaceutical products led the gains, surging 5.1% and contributing more than half of the sector’s overall monthly growth. Output also recovered in mining and quarrying (up 1.4% after a 4.1% contraction) and in electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply (up 0.1% after a 1.8% decline).

By contrast, production in water supply, sewerage and waste management fell 1.2%, erasing the 1.9% increase recorded in July.

On an annual basis, industrial production growth accelerated to 1.6% in August from a downwardly revised 0.8% in July, beating market forecasts of a 0.7% rise.