Car manufacturing sees biggest drop since records began

Car manufacturing slumped by a massive 24 per cent in April as summer shutdowns were brought forward.

New figures revealed the biggest drop in car manufacturing since records began as factory shutdowns took their toll on the industry.

Several brought forward or extended shutdowns that normally take place in the summer, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Fewer than 71,000 cars were manufactured in April, an autumn of 57,000 in the same month in 2021, based on figures from the trade body.

The figures came around the back of the number of concerning economic indicators.

UK manufacturing output fell the most in almost 17 years in April.

The 3.9 per cent decline, probably the most since June 2002, saw the economy in general shrink for any second straight month, Office for National Statistics figures published today show.

Gross domestic product fell 0.4 percent, the largest monthly drop since March 2021, leaving the economy vulnerable to a sharp slowdown this quarter.

The pound dropped following the figures were published, and was 0.4% lower at $1.2688 by 9:36 am.