Britain's manufacturing output steadied in May, supported by increases in production of food, drink and tobacco, official data showed July 6. Manufacturing output, which accounts for almost 20% of British gross domestic product growth, was unchanged from April, the National Statistics Office said.
Manufacturing output, which accounts also for 80% of British industrial production, fell by 1.7 % on a 12-month basis, although analysts had forecast a drop of 2.2%. The wider measure of industrial production, which includes oil and gas output, rose by 0.1% in May from April, helped by solid increases in mining and quarrying, as well as electricity, gas and water supplies. This was the second monthly increase in a row following three declines. Economists' consensus forecast was for a 0.2% fall.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005
