UK Manufacturing Sector Continues to Contract in May
The S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI slipped to 45.1 in May 2025 from 45.4 in April, falling short of market expectations of 46.0, according to a preliminary estimate.
The reading signaled a sharp deterioration in the manufacturing sector, as output contracted more quickly and new orders continued to decline amid rising global economic uncertainty. Employment fell at the fastest pace in five years, driven by weak demand, rising payroll costs, and limited capacity pressures.
Meanwhile, supplier delivery times lengthened the most since February 2024, reflecting international shipping delays and worsening port performance. On the cost side, input prices continued to rise sharply, though the pace of increase eased. Business sentiment remained among the weakest in over two and a half years, weighed down by concerns over US tariffs.
Source: Trading Economics