The S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI was revised slightly down to 51.7 in February 2026 from a preliminary estimate of 52.0, and compared with a 17‑month high of 51.8 in January. Despite the revision, the index continued to signal expansion in the manufacturing sector, with output growth rising to its strongest level in 17 months.
New orders, production and supplier delivery times all reflected improving operating conditions, even as firms reported declines in employment and in stocks of purchases.
Input cost inflation accelerated for the third consecutive month, reaching a six‑month high. Higher purchasing costs were attributed to increased prices for chemicals, copper, electronic components, energy, gold and silver. Supply chains remained under pressure, with vendor lead times lengthening for the twenty‑sixth straight month.
The sector’s outlook stayed relatively upbeat, with almost three‑fifths of manufacturers expecting output to increase over the next 12 months.
