Factory output slows at end of 2014

The slowdown in the growth in manufacturing output continued into December, latest official figures show.

Factory output in the three months to December was only up 0.2% against a 0.4% rise in the November period.

Output increased in six of the 13 subsectors. The biggest increases in output were 6.1% in coke and refined petroleum products and 3.3% in computer and related equipment. The car industry saw output up by 2.8% on the previous three months.

On the downside, textiles, wearing apparel and leather products saw output down by 3.9% and machinery and other equipment not classified elsewhere by 3.3%.

Factory output for the latest three months was up by 2.4% on the same period a year ago.

The wider measure of industrial output (manufacturing, mining and utilities) saw growth of just 0.1% in the three months to December and 0.8% growth on the same period a year earlier.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_394544.pdf