UK manufacturing production slumps 3.9% m/m in April, a big miss

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the UK industrial and manufacturing production data on Friday, with the overall industrial activity showing sluggishness in the month of April.

Manufacturing output arrived at -3.9% m/m in Apr versus 0.2% expectations and 0.9% booked in Mar, while total industrial output came in at -2.7% vs. 0.1% expected and 0.7% last.       

On an annualized basis, the UK manufacturing production figures came in at -0.8% in Apr, missing expectations of +1.3% by a big margin. Total industrial output jumped by -1.0% in Apr, missing expectations of a +0.5% reading and against the previous 1.3.% print.

Separately, the UK goods trade balance numbers were published, which arrived at GBP – 12.110 billion in Apr versus GBP -13.800 billion expectations and GBP -15.430 billion last. Total trade balance (non-EU) came in at GBP -4.595 billion in Apr versus GBP -4.361 billion previous.