Pre - Brexit tensions subsided in May , having boosted economic growth in Q1 2019 . The UK 's manufacturing industry saw its sharpest decline since July 2016 as orders fell . Some had predicted the IHS Markit / CIPS ( Manufacturing Purchasing Managers ’ Index ( UK ) would fall from 53.1 in April to 52.0 . In fact , it fell to 49.4 , auguring ill for Q2 economic growth figures . Exports fell sharply , amid global tensions and as European companies try to protect their supply chains from the impact of further Brexit uncertainty .
Pre-Brexit stockpiling subsided in May, having boosted economic growth in Q1 2019. The UK's manufacturing industry saw its sharpest downturn since July 2016 as orders fell. Economists had predicted the IHS Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) would fall from 53.1 in April to 52.0. In fact, it fell to 49.4, auguring ill for Q2 economic growth figures. Exports fell sharply, amid global tensions and as European companies try to protect their supply chains from the impact of further Brexit uncertainty.