2026.05.0108:46:44UTC+00UK Manufacturing PMI Revised Slightly Higher

The S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI rose to 53.7 in April 2026 from 51.0 in March, edging above the flash estimate of 53.6. This was the highest reading since May 2022, reflecting a sixth expansion in output over the past seven months, underpinned by stronger new orders, the clearing of backlogs, and a modest accumulation of finished goods inventories. New orders increased at one of the fastest paces in four years, supported by both domestic and export demand.

At the same time, supply chain pressures intensified, largely owing to continued disruption from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the protracted conflict in the Middle East. Consequently, input costs rose at their quickest rate since June 2022, representing one of the sharpest increases seen outside the immediate post-pandemic surge.

Meanwhile, business confidence slipped to a one-year low, as manufacturers became more anxious about the implications of the Middle East conflict for global growth, alongside broader geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over government policy.