UK Vehicle Manufacturing Logs Weakest Start To Year Since 2009: SMMT

RTTNews | 46 days ago
UK Vehicle Manufacturing Logs Weakest Start To Year Since 2009: SMMT

(RTTNews) - UK automotive manufacturing registered its weakest start to a year since 2009, the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, or SMMT, said Thursday.

Car and commercial vehicle production decreased 15.8 percent on a yearly basis to 59,203 units in April.

Auto production fell to the lowest level for the month since 1952, excluding 2020 when the first Covid lockdown effectively saw manufacturing cease, the lobby said. Moreover, the April result caps off the sector's weakest start to the year since 2009.

Production for home market and foreign market decreased 12.1 percent and 17.0 percent, respectively.

Car production dropped 8.6 percent from the previous year. At the same time, commercial vehicle output registered a sharper decline of 68.6 percent due to a plant closure and normalizing demand for new heavy goods vehicles.

The decline in car output was driven by the later timing of Easter, model changeovers and lower demand in key export markets. Car production for export slid 10.1 percent, while production for the domestic market decreased 3.3 percent during month of international trading uncertainty.

SMMT Chief Economist Mike Hawes said new trade deals with EU, US and India provide opportunities for future growth but urgent action is needed to boost domestic demand and international competitiveness.

read more
UK Economy Contracts For Second Straight Month

UK Economy Contracts For Second Straight Month

The UK economy shrank for the second consecutive month in May, adding challenges to Chancellor Rachel Reeves in meeting her self-imposed borrowing rules. Gross domestic product fell unexpectedly by 0.1 percent in May, following a 0.3 percent drop in April, data from the Office for National Statistics revealed on Friday.
RTTNews | 3 days ago
UK House Prices Remain Flat In June: Halifax

UK House Prices Remain Flat In June: Halifax

UK house prices remained flat in June after falling last month as more first-time buyers returned to the market, data from the mortgage lender Halifax showed on Monday. House prices stagnated on a monthly basis, reversing May's 0.3 percent decrease. Prices were forecast to fall 0.1 percent. At the same time, annual growth in house prices softened to 2.5 percent from 2.6 percent in the preceding
RTTNews | 7 days ago
UK Construction Sector Contraction Slowest In 6 Months

UK Construction Sector Contraction Slowest In 6 Months

UK construction activity declined at the slowest pace since the current period of contraction began in January, survey results from S&P Global showed on Friday. The headline construction Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 48.8 in June from 47.9 in May. The expected score was 48.6. Any reading below 50.0 indicates an overall reduction in construction activity.
RTTNews | 10 days ago
UK Car Sales Expand On Strong Electric Car Demand: SMMT

UK Car Sales Expand On Strong Electric Car Demand: SMMT

UK car sales expanded for the second straight month and marked the best June since 2019 with strong growth in battery electric car demand, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders showed on Friday. New car market grew 6.7 percent from a year ago to 191,316 units in June. This was the best June since 2019, helping lift first half performance 3.5 percent above the same period last yea
RTTNews | 10 days ago
UK Service Sector Growth At 10-Month High

UK Service Sector Growth At 10-Month High

The UK service sector posted its fastest growth in ten months in June underpinned by a renewed improvement in order books, final purchasing managers' survey from S&P Global showed on Thursday. The services business activity index climbed to 52.8 in June from 50.9 in the previous month. This was the highest score since August 2024 and above the initial estimate of 51.3.
RTTNews | 11 days ago
UK House Price Inflation Softens In June

UK House Price Inflation Softens In June

UK house prices logged a slower growth in June reflecting weaker demand after the increase in stamp duty at the start of April, data from the Nationwide Building Society showed on Tuesday. House prices advanced 2.1 percent year-on-year in June, slower than the 3.5 percent increase seen in May. House price growth was expected to moderate to 3.3 percent.
RTTNews | 13 days ago
UK Mortgage Approvals Rise For First Time This Year

UK Mortgage Approvals Rise For First Time This Year

UK mortgage approvals increased for the first time so far this year in May, suggesting an improvement in housing market activity, figures from the Bank of England showed Monday. The net mortgage approvals for house purchases that indicate future borrowing rose by more-than-expected 2,400 to 63,000 in May. This was the first increase since December 2024.
RTTNews | 14 days ago
UK GDP Growth Confirmed At 0.7%

UK GDP Growth Confirmed At 0.7%

The UK economy expanded at a stronger pace in the first quarter as previously estimated on robust services and industrial production, revised data from the Office for National Statistics showed on Monday. Real gross domestic product grew 0.7 percent, unrevised from the first estimate. This followed 0.1 percent expansion in the fourth quarter and marked the fastest growth since the first quarter.
RTTNews | 14 days ago