FX.co ★ UK Manufacturing PMI Inches Higher in July, Signalling Steady Expansion

The United Kingdom’s manufacturing sector continued to expand in July 2026, with the S&P Global Manufacturing PMI edging up to 52.8 from 52.5 in June 2026. The latest reading, updated on 24 July 2026, remains above the 50.0 threshold that separates expansion from contraction, pointing to a modest but ongoing improvement in industrial activity.

The slight uptick suggests that factory output and new orders are holding up, with manufacturers maintaining cautious optimism. While the gain from June is incremental, the move higher reinforces a picture of gradual stabilization in the sector rather than a sharp acceleration or slowdown.

For market participants and policymakers, the July figure offers another data point indicating that UK manufacturing is on a steady, if unspectacular, growth path as the second half of 2026 gets underway.