Industrial production in the UK fell 0.5% month-on-month in May 2026, worse than market expectations of a 0.1% drop and reversing an upwardly revised 0.2% gain in the previous month. It marked the first monthly decline since January, driven by a sharp drop in mining and quarrying output (-4.6% vs 2.4% in April), with crude petroleum and natural gas extraction plunging 4.8% to its lowest level since records began in 1990. In addition, manufacturing growth slowed (0.1% vs 0.5%), led by weaker output in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and preparations (0.6% vs 4.3%). Overall production was also weighed down by a decline in water supply, sewerage and waste management (-2.4% vs 0.2%). Meanwhile, electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply fell at a much softer pace (-0.1% vs -2.1%). On a yearly basis, industrial production jumped to 1% in May from a revised flat reading in April, though it remained below market expectations of 1.2%.