FX.co ★ UK Manufacturing Output Rebounds in February

In February 2025, the UK's manufacturing production witnessed a 2.2% increase compared to the previous month, bouncing back from a downwardly revised 1% decrease in January. This rise significantly exceeded market predictions, which anticipated a modest 0.2% growth. It represents the most substantial expansion since June 2023, with 10 out of 13 subsectors experiencing growth. The manufacture of computer, electronic, and optical products led the surge with a notable 9.8% growth, bouncing back from a 0.7% decline in January. Additionally, the production of basic pharmaceutical products rose by 4.4%, reversing a previous 3.4% drop, while transport equipment grew by 1.8%, up from 0.6%. Conversely, declines were noted in sectors such as coke and refined petroleum products, which fell by 3.3% compared to a 0.6% drop previously, food products, beverages, and tobacco which contracted by 0.5% following a 0.5% rise, and electrical equipment production, which decreased by 0.3%, albeit an improvement from the 0.8% fall prior. Annually, manufacturing output edged up by 0.3% in February, marking an improvement after a 0.9% decrease in the preceding period.