Input prices faced by UK manufacturers rose sharply in September 2026, with the Producer Price Index (PPI) Input climbing 1.5% month-over-month, up from a 0.3% increase in August. The latest data, updated on 21 October 2026, signals a notable acceleration in cost pressures at the factory gate.
The September reading compares the change in input prices versus August, while the previous 0.3% figure reflected the change in August relative to July. The step-up from 0.3% to 1.5% suggests that producers are experiencing a stronger rise in the cost of raw materials and intermediate goods, potentially feeding into future output prices and, ultimately, consumer inflation if businesses pass on the higher costs.
Market participants and policymakers will be watching whether this momentum in input costs persists in the coming months, as sustained increases could complicate the broader inflation outlook and influence expectations for monetary policy in the United Kingdom.
