Exports of British manufactured goods declined sharply, recording the largest drop in five years. The main reasons are trade tensions caused by Donald Trump's policies and higher taxes for employers in the UK. According to S&P Global, demand for British products has declined in key markets such as the United States, Europe and China. The rate of decline in exports was the fastest since May 2020, when the economy was suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PMI index, reflecting the dynamics in the manufacturing sector, reached 45.4 in April, indicating a continued decline, as the indicator remains below the 50.0 level separating growth and decline. This is the seventh consecutive month that the index has declined. Production also continues to fall for the sixth month in a row, indicating continued difficulties for the industry. These data highlight the serious challenges facing the UK manufacturing sector due to global trade tensions and domestic economic pressures.
