UK Business Activity Rebounds to 52.1 PMI in July as World Cup and Heatwave Lift Demand
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Jul 24
UK Business Activity Rebounds to 52.1 PMI in July as World Cup and Heatwave Lift Demand
3 articles · Updated · The Independent · Jul 24
Summary
52.1 — the flash UK composite PMI rose from 49.3 in June, beating forecasts of 49.7 and marking the first private-sector growth in three months.
Hospitality and domestic travel drove the rebound as the heatwave, World Cup and staycations boosted demand, while lower fuel prices and improving market conditions also helped.
53.6 — manufacturing led the pickup, posting its strongest production growth since September 2024 as new orders increased; services also returned to growth at 51.8, a three-month high.
Input price inflation moderated again across manufacturing and services, though cost-of-living pressures, Middle East conflict uncertainty and some heat-related disruption still weighed on confidence.
The July survey points to faster UK economic growth at the start of the third quarter, suggesting households and businesses have so far absorbed the first phase of the Iran war.