Factory output and production rise

Manufacturing output rose by 1.2% in the three months to August compared with the previous three-month period.

The largest upward contribution was in transport equipment, where output rose by 4.7%. “Other manufacturing and repair” was up by 4.0% and the manufacture of rubber, plastic and non-metallic products by 3.3%, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Output in pharmaceuticals was down by 5.1% on the previous three-month period, and basic metals output fell by 1.8%.

Manufacturing output in the latest three-month period was only 0.6% up on the same period a year ago.

Production output (manufacturing, mining and utilities) was up by 1.1% compared with the previous period, but down by 0.3% on the same period in 2012.

The more volatile monthly figures showed a 1.2% fall in manufacturing output on July and a 0.2% fall on a year ago.

For production, the fall was 1.1% in August on July and 1.5% on August 2012.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_329605.pdf