UK capital formation in plant and machinery
UK capital formation in plant and machinery stood at £23,547m in Q2 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Quarterly GDP table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1997 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Quarterly GDP table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross fixed capital formation, total | 144,517 | 143,172 | 140,695 | 141,171 | 140,106 | 139,557 | 135,919 | 136,163 | 131,548 | 131,413 | |
| Capital formation in plant and machinery | 23,547 | 22,827 | 22,497 | 23,596 | 21,446 | 22,009 | 20,129 | 20,469 | 18,742 | 18,824 | |
| Capital formation in vehicles, ships and aircraft | 5,702 | 6,342 | 4,822 | 5,881 | 6,701 | 7,495 | 7,628 | 7,833 | 8,738 | 7,393 |
Understanding UK capital formation in plant and machinery
Capital spending on industrial equipment, production machinery, electrical apparatus, and non-transport operating gear across the United Kingdom is recorded in this series in £m. It covers physical productive machinery installed in manufacturing plants, telecommunications networks, utilities, and commercial offices. Within the capital formation hierarchy, it stands separate from transport equipment, residential housing, and intangible assets, serving as a dedicated barometer of industrial retooling and technological capital upgrading.
Seasonally adjusted data help counteract annual corporate procurement cycles and capital budget timing. Due to the high unit cost and irregular commissioning schedules of heavy industrial machinery and data processing equipment, this series often displays sharp quarterly swings. Revisions can be marked following the incorporation of annual structural business surveys. Analysts tracking manufacturing capacity should monitor this series alongside industrial production figures to assess long-term productive capability.
Frequently asked questions
- Are company cars and delivery vans included in this category?
- No, all mobile transport gear is categorised separately under vehicles, ships, and aircraft capital formation.
- Does this metric include leased machinery?
- Assets acquired under financial leases are recorded under the sector using the machinery, whereas operational leases remain with the leasing company.
- How is office computer hardware treated in this classification?
- Physical computer hardware and network servers are included here, whereas the software programs running on them fall under intangible assets.