09/06/2003

Manufacturing output 'flat' over first quarter of 2003

According to an Office of National Statistics report published today, manufacturing output was flat in the three months to April, compared with the three months to January.

The report found that five subsectors showed increased output and seven showed falls – the most significant descreases come from the paper, printing and publishing industries, where output has decreased by 2%. The basic metals and metal products industries also suffered falls, where output dipped by 1.9%.

The paper, printing and publishing subsector showed widespread falls, with printing and book publishing featuring as the most significant. Two thirds of the basic metals industries fell on a three-monthly basis, with manufacture of fabricated metal products having the biggest effect.

Amongst the subsectors which rose on a three-monthly basis, there is a significant rise of 3.5% in the transport equipment industries. Strong motor vehicles and aerospace output are the industries providing the growth.

On a three-monthly basis, overall production fell by 0.2%. Energy supply output fell by 1.1% over the three months to April and is the main reason that overall production is decreasing whilst manufacturing is flat.

Between March and April, manufacturing output increased by 0.3 % with five of the 13 subsectors increasing their output. The most significant rise comes from the electrical and optical equipment industries, where an increase of 3.2% on the month follows low output in March. Manufacturing output has been broadly flat since November 2002.

The monthly movement in the overall Index of Production rose 0.2%, marginally below that for manufacturing. Low oil output in April has contributed to the mining and quarrying figures falling by 2.1% on the month.

(GMcG)

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