Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance UK · Aug 3
UK Manufacturing PMI Slips to 51.9, Missing 52.5 Forecasts
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance UK · Aug 3

UK Manufacturing PMI Slips to 51.9, Missing 52.5 Forecasts

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Finance UK · Aug 3

Summary

  • 51.9 was the UK manufacturing PMI reading in July, down from 52.5 in June and marking the sector’s weakest expansion in four months.
  • New orders and exports still grew—helped by demand from North America, the EU, China, India and South Korea—and production rose at its fastest pace in almost two years.
  • Purchasing stock fell and hiring growth slowed to near stagnation, pulling on the headline index even as staffing levels rose for a fourth straight month.
  • Business optimism remained subdued as firms cited global trade tensions, tax rises, regulatory changes and uncertainty after the US-Iran ceasefire broke down.

Insights

Despite a six-month growth streak, why are UK manufacturers suddenly paralyzing their own future investments?
Are looming tax hikes and digital customs mandates secretly engineering the downfall of smaller British factories?