The UK Manufacturing PMI slipped to 53.1 in June 2026, a three-month low and below market expectations of 53.8, after 53.9 in May, according to flash estimates. Despite the headline decline, manufacturing output strengthened, with the output index rising to 53.6 from 52.2, its highest level in 21 months. This improvement was partly driven by temporary customer stockpiling as firms prepared for potential price increases.
However, new order growth slowed to a six-month low, indicating that this demand boost may be losing momentum. Manufacturing employment continued to rise, though some firms noted that recent hiring was largely a short-term response to fuller order books.
Input cost pressures eased, while higher selling prices mainly reflected the pass-through of earlier cost increases to customers. Supply chain conditions worsened again, with more manufacturers reporting longer delivery times than improvements, although the extent of disruption was the mildest in three months.
