Index of Production, UK: October 2021

• Monthly production fell by 0.6% between September 2021 and October 2021, meaning output was 2.1% below its February 2020 level, the last month of “normal” trading conditions prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

• The monthly decline in output was the result of falls in two of the four production sectors, with equal negative contributions from the electricity and gas sector, which fell by 2.9%; and the mining and quarrying sector, which fell by 5.0%.

• Of the four production sectors, monthly manufacturing output remained 2.5% below its February 2020 level, mining and quarrying was 8.5% below and electricity and gas was 1.6% below; in contrast, water supply and sewerage was 6.1% above its February 2020 level.

• Within manufacturing, output remained flat between September 2021 and October 2021, highlighting a mixed picture across the sector; most notably, the fall of 9.5% from the manufacture of machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified, which was partially offset by a rise of 8.6% in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations.

• Production output for the three months to October 2021 increased by 0.5%, compared with the three months to July 2021, led by a 25.5% rise from mining and quarrying; the rise in mining and quarrying was led by a strong increase in extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas of 30.2%, following the reopening of oil fields after a period of maintenance during April to June 2021.

• For further and detailed analysis of the effect on our monthly Index of Production estimate, please see GDP monthly estimate, UK: October 2021, published today (10 December 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.

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 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 Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS).

Consultation on the Code of Practice for Statistics – proposed change to 9:30am release practice

On behalf of the UK Statistics Authority, the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) is conducting a consultation on the Code of Practice for Statistics, proposing changes to the 9.30am release practice. Please send comments by 21 December 2021 to: regulation@statistics.gov.uk.

Economic statistics governance after EU exit

Following the UK’s exit from the EU, new governance arrangements are being put in place that will support the adoption and implementation of high-quality standards for UK economic statistics. These governance arrangements will promote international comparability and add to the credibility and independence of the UK’s statistical system.

At the centre of this new governance framework will be the new National Statistician’s Committee for Advice on Standards for Economic Statistics (NSCASE). NSCASE will support the UK by ensuring its processes for influencing and adopting international statistical standards are world leading. The advice NSCASE provides to the National Statistician will span the full range of domains in economic statistics, including the National Accounts, fiscal statistics, prices, trade and the balance of payments and labour market statistics.

Further information.