Factory output still below peak

Manufacturing output and industrial production output are still below the peaks reached in 2008, according to the latest official figures.

Manufacturing output is still 7.6% below the pre-recession peak reached in the first quarter of 2008 and production output (manufacturing, mining and utilities) is still 11.3% short of its peak in that quarter.

The Office for National Statistics said that factory output was 0.6% down in the three months to July compared with the previous three-month period.

Among the decreases in output were a 5.6% decrease in coke and refined petroleum products, a 2.5% cut in textile and a 2.5% decrease in pharmaceuticals.

Output increased in a number of sub-sectors, but apart from the 1.6% increase in transport equipment, the rises were less than 1%.

Manufacturing output was up by 2.6% on the same period a year ago.

Industrial production was down by just 0.1% in the three months ending July, but was 1.7% higher than the same period a year ago.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_376429.pdf