Factory output slows


Manufacturing output growth slowed for the third consecutive month, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.



In first quarter of the year, factory output increased by 0.2% compared with the final quarter of 2017. The increase was down on the 0.6% increase for three-months ending February.


Just five of the 13 subsectors posted increases but they included a 4.4% increase in computer and electronics equipment and a 4.1% increase in “machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified”. On the down side, output of coke and refined petroleum products decreased by 6.5%.



Factory output was up 2.5% on the first quarter 2017. 



The more volatile monthly figures show a 0.1% increase in manufacturing output in March 2018 compared with February 2018, while the increase on the same month a year ago was 2.9%.



The production industries (mining and utilities as well as manufacturing) saw output increase by 0.6% in the first quarter of 2018 compared with previous quarter and by 2.0% on the same period a year ago.




In March, the monthly increases for production were 0.1% on previous month and 2.9% on the same month 2017.



www.ons.gov.uk/economy/economicoutputandproductivity/output/bulletins/indexofproduction/march2018