For the sixth month in a row, British manufacturing output increased.
However the wider measure of industrial production fell for the first time since June, official data showed on Dec. 7.
Manufacturing output increased by 0.6% in October compared with activity in September, the Office for National Statistics said. That was the fastest monthly pace since March.
Output climbed by 5.8% in October compared with the level one year earlier.
Industrial production, which includes mining and quarrying, as well as electricity, gas, and water supply, fell by 0.2% in October and rose by 3.3% year-on-year.
"The October production proved to be the veritable mixed bag ... with industrial production and manufacturing output moving in opposite directions during the month owing to weakness within the mining and utilities areas of the index," said HSBC analyst Stuart Green.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010
