UK December final manufacturing PMI 50.6 vs 51.2 prelim | investingLive

• Prior 50.2

There is a slight negative revision but it still marks an improvement to November, as the UK manufacturing recovery continues at end of 2025. Of note, both output and new orders nudged higher in helping to see the headline reading post a 15-month high. So, that’s a positive signal at least. However, there was a mild increase in price pressures as input
cost inflation accelerated and output charges rose after
declining in November. S&P Global notes that:

“Further signs of growth emanated from the UK
manufacturing sector before the turn of the year. Output
rose for the third successive month and new order
intakes improved, albeit slightly, for the first time since
September 2024. The domestic market remained a
positive spur to growth while new export business, despite
having now fallen for almost four consecutive years, took
a sizeable stride towards stabilising.

“UK manufacturers benefited from several reduced
headwinds towards the end of the year, as the negative
impacts of the uncertainty surrounding the Autumn
Budget, tariffs and the JLR cyber-attack all moderated.

“The start of 2026 will show if growth can be sustained
after these temporary boosts subside. The base of the
expansion needs to shift more towards rising demand
and away from inventory building and backlog clearance.
December’s interest rate cut will hopefully play some part
in assisting this transition, encouraging manufacturers
and their customers to increase spending and investment.
Manufacturers remain uncertain on this score, with
business optimism falling for the first time in three
months in December.”