Factory output weakening
Manufacturing output is weakening latest official figures show.
Factory output contracted by 0.8% in the three-month period ending July compared with the previous three-month period; the June decrease was 0.3%.
There was a fall of 5.2% in the other machinery group. Other decreases included: 3.1% in electrical equipment and 2.8% in basic metals.
On the plus side, output in computers and electronics increased by 2.7%.
Manufacturing output was up by 0.4% on the same three-month period a year ago.
The more volatile monthly figures showed a 0.8% decrease in July compared with June.
Output of the production industries (manufacturing, mining and utilities) was up by 0.3% on the previous three-month period, and up by 1.4% on the same period a year earlier.
Production and manufacturing were 9.3% and 5.2% respectively below their figures reached in the pre-downturn peak in first quarter of 2008.