Manufacturing flat

Manufacturing seems to be bumping along the bottom, official figures show.

Factory output showed no change in the first quarter of the year compared with the final quarter of 2011.

Out of the 13 manufacturing sub sectors six fell with seven rising offsetting each other. The largest downwards drivers to the quarter were: the manufacture of food, beverages and tobacco industries, which fell by 1.8%, and the manufacture of rubber and plastic products industries, which fell by 4.2%. The largest upwards drivers to the quarter were the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and preparations industries, which rose by 6.1%, and the manufacture of electrical equipment industries, which rose by 12.1%.

Manufacturing output was down 0.8% on the same quarter 2011. Meanwhile, the more volatile monthly figures showed a 0.9% rise in March compared with February.

The index of production (manufacturing, mining and energy supplies) posted a 0.4% fall in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the final quarter of last year and it was down by 3.0% on the same quarter of 2011.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_264808.pdf