UK Manufacturing PMI surveys factory purchasing managers on output, orders and hiring; a reading above 50 means manufacturing is expanding and below 50 means it is contracting.
Actual
51.8
Forecast
51.6
Previous
50.6
Source: S&P Global. Figures as released; revisions appear in the next print.
UK Manufacturing PMI for January 2026 came in at 51.8 versus 51.6 expected (previous 50.6), above forecast, which was positive for the GBP.
What it meant for the British Pound
The actual landed above the 51.6 forecast (0.2 above expectations). A reading above forecast is generally bullish for the GBP, and below forecast bearish. On this release the read was positive for the GBP.
New to this release? See what UK Manufacturing PMI measures, the next release and its full history.