Production Output Flat-to-Lower as Manufacturing Output Nudges Higher

The latest Index of Production figures were released by the Office for National Statistics today. Highlights include:

• Total production output was flat in the three months to July compared to the previous three-month period. However, it was down 10.7% compared to the same three month period in 2008.
• Mining and quarrying sector output decreased by 0.9% in the three months to July 2009. Within the mining and quarrying sector, there was a decrease in oil and gas extraction of 0.9%.
• Energy supply sector output decreased by 0.7%. Within energy supply, output of the electricity supply industry decreased by 2.1% per cent during the period.
• Manufacturing output increased by 0.2% in the three months to July 2009 compared with the three months to April 2009. It was 11.4% lower than the same three month period in 2008.
• Output increased in 5 of the 13 sub-sectors whilst decreasing in the other 8 sub-sectors.
• The most significant increases in output in the latest three-month-on-three-month period were:
  • Wood and wood products industries, up 8.4%;
  • Transport equipment industries, up 6.9%, and;
  • Rubber and plastic products industries up 3.9%.
• The most significant decreases in output in the latest three-month-on-three-month period were:
  • Machinery and equipment industries, down 2.7%;
  • Electrical and optical equipment industries, down 1.9%, and;
  • Basic metals and metal product industries, down 1.5%.

Data: Office for National Statistics.

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