Index of Production, UK: August 2020

• In August 2020, the Index of Production is 6.0% below February 2020, the previous month of "normal" trading conditions, prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

• Production output rose by 0.3% between July 2020 and August 2020, with manufacturing providing the largest upward contribution, rising by 0.7%; electricity and gas also rose (1.6%), partially offset by a fall in mining and quarrying (4.1%).

• The monthly increase of 0.7% in manufacturing output was led by other manufacturing and repair; 8 of the 13 subsectors displayed upward contributions.

• Total production output increased by 9.3% for the three months to August 2020, compared with the three months to May 2020; this was primarily because of the strength displayed during June and July 2020.

• For the three months to August 2020, compared with the three months to August 2019, production output decreased by 8.6%; this was led by a fall in manufacturing of 11.4%.

• 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 August 2020; for further and detailed analysis of the effect on our monthly index of production estimate, please see our article Coronavirus and the impact on output in the UK economy, UK: August 2020, published today (9 October 2020).

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.

Leaving the EU

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') Monthly Business Survey (MBS) is fully online, meaning that business owners can logon 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 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.

Blue Book 2020

Each year we produce an annual update to the UK National Accounts in the Blue Book and Pink Bookand the associated releases. As already announced, the Blue Book and Pink Book 2020 consistent datasets were published on 30 September 2020 as part of the Quarterly National Accounts.

Details have already been provided on the scope in the article Latest developments and changes to be implemented in Blue Book and Pink Book 2020. Indicative impacts on headline gross domestic product (GDP) components for the years 1997 to 2018 were published on 20 July 2020 in the article Impact of Blue Book 2020 changes on current price and volume estimates of gross domestic product.

This publication incorporates revisions consistent with Blue Book 2020, where the reference year and latest base year for all chained volume measure series will be updated to 2018.