Factory output stalls


Manufacturing output posted a 2.1% increase in the three months to February — the same percentage rise as January.


There were strong performances from other machinery with a 4.2% increase on the previous three-month period and textiles and clothing with a 4.0% increase. On the downside, coke and petroleum products output decreased by 3.7%.


Manufacturing output was 3.4% higher than the same period a year ago against a 2.9% increase for the respective January three-month periods.


In February, output of the production industries — manufacturing, mining and utilities — was 1.6% up on the previous three-month period, and 3.5% higher than the same period a year ago.


Both production and manufacturing output have steadily risen, but remain well below their level reached in the pre-downturn gross domestic product peak in first quarter of 2008 by 6.7% and 3.0% respectively in the three months to February 2017.


www.ons.gov.uk/economy/economicoutputandproductivity/output/bulletins/indexofproduction/feb2017