Factory output down
There was no good news for manufacturing in official figures for the first quarter of the year.
Manufacturing fell by 0.3% in quarter one 2013 when compared with the fourth quarter 2012. The largest downward contributions in manufacturing output were the manufacture of machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified which fell by 5.5%; the manufacture of rubber and plastic products which fell by 4.5%; and the manufacture of basic pharmaceuticals products which fell by 4.1%.
In contrast, the most significant increases were in the manufacture of wood and paper products and printing which rose by 6.7%; the manufacture of transport equipment which rose by 2.0% and other manufacture and repair which rose by 3.7%.
Manufacturing output was down by 2.1% on the same quarter 2012.
The index of production (manufacturing, mining and utilities) rose by 0.2% in the first quarter of the year on the final quarter 2012. The increase reflects rises of 4.0% in mining and quarrying, 0.6% in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning, partially offset by falls in manufacturing and in the water, sewerage and waste management sector.
The bad news was that production output was down by 2.3% on the same quarter a year ago.