Table of contents
1. Main points
Production output rose by 0.5% between August 2020 and September 2020, with all sectors showing growth: manufacturing rose by 0.2%; electricity and gas rose by 0.4%; mining and quarrying rose by 1.3%; and water supply rose by 1.7%.
In September 2020, the Index of Production (IoP) was 5.6% below February 2020, the previous month of "normal" trading conditions, prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The monthly increase of 0.2% in manufacturing output was led by manufacturing of transport equipment; 10 of the 13 subsectors displayed upward contributions.
Total production output increased by 14.3% for the three months to September 2020 (Quarter 3), compared with the three months to June 2020 (Quarter 2); this was primarily because of the strength displayed during July 2020.
For the three months to September 2020, compared with the three months to September 2019, production output decreased by 6.7%; this was led by a fall in manufacturing of 8.8%.
The coronavirus continued to have a significant impact on our estimates of monthly, three-monthly and three-monthly on a year ago growth for production output during September 2020; for further and detailed analysis of the effect on our monthly IoP estimate, please see our article Coronavirus and the impact on output in the UK economy, UK: September 2020, published today (12 November 2020).
2. Index of Production data
Index of Production time series
Dataset DIOP | Released 12 November 2020
Movements in the volume of production for the UK production industries: manufacturing, mining and quarrying, energy supply, and water and waste management. Figures are seasonally adjusted.
Output of the production industries
Dataset | Released 12 November 2020
Index values and growth rates for production, manufacturing and the main industrial groupings in the UK.
Index of Production and industry sectors to four decimal places
Dataset | Released 12 November 2020
Monthly index values for production and the main Index of Production (IoP) sectors in the UK to four decimal places.
Monthly Business Survey turnover in production industries
Dataset | Released 12 November 2020
Monthly Business Survey (MBS) production industries' total turnover, domestic sales and exports in the UK. Figures are in current price and non-seasonally adjusted.
Export proportions for manufacturing industries
Dataset | Released 12 November 2020
Monthly, three-monthly and annual export data for the manufacturing industries, collected by the MBS at industry level in the UK.
All data related to the IoP are available on the Related data page.
3. Measuring the data
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.
After EU withdrawal
As the UK leaves the EU, it is important that our statistics continue to be of high quality and are internationally comparable. During the transition period, those UK statistics that align with EU practice and rules will continue to do so in the same way as before 31 January 2020.
After the transition period, we will continue to produce our national accounts statistics in line with the UK Statistics Authority's Code of Practice for Statistics and in accordance with internationally agreed statistical guidance and standards.
The Withdrawal Agreement outlines a need for UK Gross National Income (a fundamental component of the national accounts, which includes gross domestic product (GDP)) statistics to remain in line with those of other EU countries until the EU budgets are finalised for the years in which we were a member. To ensure comparability during this cycle, the national accounts will continue to be produced according to European System of Accounts (ESA) 2010 definitions and standards.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Office for National Statistics' (ONS') 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 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 web page. This is 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.
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