Cara Haffey, Leader of Industry for Industrials and Services at PwC UK, said:
"The latest PMI data paints an encouraging but nuanced picture of UK manufacturing. At 53.9, a four-year high, it suggests momentum but needs to be viewed with a pinch of salt. The impact of the war in the Middle East is increasingly being felt on the ground, and we’re starting to see the effect of manufacturers front-loading purchases and inventory to soften the blow of rising costs and supply chain disruption. When that stockpiling levels off, the true strength of demand will become clearer.
“The continued cost pressure is a real concern. The rising cost of doing business, from raw materials and energy to labour and taxes, is squeezing margins across the sector. Against this backdrop, support for domestic industrial capability and infrastructure investment is critical, particularly as manufacturers look to strengthen resilience and competitiveness.
“There is clear ambition for growth across the sector, but the focus now must be on whether the underlying pipeline of work holds up, how effectively costs are managed, and how businesses can strike the right balance to support long-term investment and sustainable growth."
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