Britain's manufacturing output fell during 2005, official figures showed on Feb. 8, recording the first annual decline since 2002, despite a pick-up towards the end of last year. Manufacturing output, which accounts for about 18% of Britain's gross domestic product (GDP), fell by 0.8% last year compared with 2004, the office for National Statistics said.
Manufacturing output increased by a seasonally-adjusted 0.3% in December from the previous month but fell 2.2% compared with December 2004.
The wider measure of industrial production, which also includes energy and mineral extraction, showed also a significant drop. Industrial production, which accounts for just over 20% of gross domestic product, sank by 1.7% over the course of 2005, compared with the previous year.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006
