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GB: Industrial Production
| Consensus | Consensus Range | Actual | Previous | Revised | |
| Industrial Production - M/M | 0.1% | -0.1% to 0.2% | -0.5% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| Industrial Production - Y/Y | 1.2% | -0.1% to 1.3% | 1.0% | -0.2% | 0.0% |
| Manufacturing Output - M/M | -0.1% | -0.3% to 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Manufacturing Output - Y/Y | 2.0% | -0.1% to 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.0% |
Highlights
The UK's production sector weakened in May 2026, with monthly output declining by 0.5 percent, reversing the modest 0.2 percent increase recorded in April and signalling continued volatility in industrial activity. Although annual production remained marginally positive at 0.1 percent, this represented a notable slowdown from the revised 0.5 percent growth reported in the previous month, suggesting that underlying industrial momentum is weakening.
The contraction was primarily driven by sharp declines in mining and quarrying (minus 4.6 percent), water supply and sewerage (minus 2.4 percent), and electricity and gas (minus 0.1 percent). Particularly concerning was the 4.8 percent fall in crude petroleum and natural gas extraction, which pushed output in this industry to its lowest level since records began in 1990, pointing to persistent structural and operational pressures within the UK's energy sector.
Manufacturing provided only limited resilience. Although 7 of the 13 manufacturing subsectors recorded growth, led by a strong 5.3 percent expansion in machinery and equipment, these gains were largely offset by a 2.7 percent decline in basic metals and metal products.
In summary, the data suggest that while pockets of manufacturing remain robust, broad-based weakness in energy-related industries continues to constrain industrial production, posing downside risks to economic growth in the near term. Thee latest updates take the RPI to minus 22 and the RPI-P to minus 9, meaning that economic activities are now behind market expectations in the UK.
Market Consensus Before Announcement
The consensus looks for industrial output up 0.1 percent on the month and up 1.2 percent on year in May.