Manufacturing falls

The end of 2012 saw manufacturing post a fall with output down by 0.8% in the final quarter of the year on the previous quarter. Output was also down slightly — by 0.2% — on the same quarter 2011.

It may be a false dawn, but the more volatile monthly figures showed a 1.0% rise in output last December on the previous month.

The index of production (manufacturing, mining and utilities) showed a 1.4% fall in the fourth quarter 2012 on the previous quarter and was 3.2% down on the same quarter 2011.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_255920.pdf