Index of Production, UK: April 2021

• Monthly production fell by 1.3% between March 2021 and April 2021 meaning output was 3.1% below its February 2020 level, the last month of "normal" trading conditions prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

• The fall in production was driven by decreases of 15.0% in mining and quarrying, 0.3% in manufacturing, and 0.9% in water supply and sewerage; these were offset partially by a rise in electricity and gas of 0.5%.

• The 0.3% fall in manufacturing over the month was driven by lower output in 5 of the 13 manufacturing subsectors and was led by a fall of 16.0% in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations.

• Despite the fall from March to April, production output for the three months to April 2021 increased by 0.5% compared with the three months to January 2021.

• The coronavirus pandemic has had a generally negative impact on production output, although each sector has been affected differently; manufacturing output remains 2.4% below its February 2020 level, and mining and quarrying is 23.7% below. However, electricity and gas is 2.4% above its February 2020 level, and water supply and sewerage is 2.7% above; for further and detailed analysis of the effect on our monthly Index of Production (IoP) estimate, please see our article Coronavirus and the impact on output in the UK economy, UK: April 2021, published today (11 June 2021).

The Index of Production (IoP) uses data from a variety of sources and is calculated by taking turnover and removing the impact of price changes or by using direct volume estimates.

The majority of these data are collected as "turnover values" through the Monthly Business Survey (MBS). In addition, direct volume series are collected by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the International Steel Statistics Bureau (ISSB) for steel industries.

From January 2018, Value Added Tax (VAT) data have also been included across 64 production industries for small and medium-sized businesses. For more information, see VAT turnover data in national accounts: background and methodology.

A comprehensive list of the IoP source data can be found in the Gross domestic product (GDP(O)) source catalogue (XLS, 715KB).

More quality and methodology information on strengths, limitations, appropriate uses, and how the data were created is available in the UK IoP QMI.

Blue Book 2021

In Blue Book 2021 a new framework will be introduced to improve how we produce volume estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) for balanced years as part of the supply use process. This framework includes the implementation of double-deflated industry-level gross value added for the first time. This improvement will be reflected in the September quarterly national accounts and October monthly GDP estimates. On 28 June we will publish Blue Book 2021 indicative impacts of this change to industry level gross value added volume.

Consultation to the release time

The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) is currently holding a consultation to get feedback as to the release time of these statistics. This consultation closes on 25 June 2021. If you have any comments about the release time of official statistics, please contact the OSR.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Office for National Statistics' (ONS') Monthly Business Survey (MBS) is fully online, meaning that business owners can log on from any location and submit their data at an appropriate time. Most other data in the Index of Production (IoP) come from the BEIS and therefore will be less impacted than survey data.

Our latest data and analysis on the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the UK economy and population is now available on a new web page. This will be the hub for all special coronavirus-related publications, including the fortnightly Business Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Survey (BICS).

The ONS has released a public statement on COVID-19 and the production of statistics. Specific queries must be directed to the Media Relations Office.