Britain's economic recovery is gathering strength as measured by the 1.3 % increase in manufacturing output in February as compared to January.
Output in February on a 12-month basis surged by 1.4%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) saidon April 8, the largest annual gain for two years.
The ONS added that a wider measure of industrial production -- which includes mining, quarrying and energy -- increased by 1% in February from January, but dipped 0.1% on a 12-month basis.
"Industrial production in the United Kingdom bounced back in February," said economist Charles Davis at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, which is an independent consultancy. "Overall, the latest short term indicators imply that (economic) growth continued in the first quarter, despite a sluggish start in January."
Britain emerged from a record recession in stronger shape than previously thought in the fourth quarter of 2009, official data showed recently. Gross Domestic Product grew 0.4% in the three months to the end of December.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010
