Small recovery in manufacturing output
Manufacturing output rose by 0.5% in the three months ending July on to the previous three month period ending April, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Meanwhile, manufacturing output was up by 2.0% on the same period a year ago.
The more volatile monthly figures showed an annual rise of 1.9% in July 2011. The ONS said output increased in nine of the 13 manufacturing sub-sectors with the largest increase in output in the transport equipment industries which rose by 10.4%.
The index of production, covering manufacturing, mining and utilities, posted a 0.4% fall in the three months ending July on to the previous three month period. Production was also down by 0.6% on the same period a year earlier.