UK Industrial Output Surged in February, Data Show

LONDON -- Industrial output across Britain rose by a robust 0.9% in February compared with activity in January, official data showed Tuesday, cementing the country's economic recovery.

And over 12 months, output jumped by 2.7%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) added in a statement.

Manufacturing output -- which excludes mining and quarrying, electricity, gas and water supply -- grew by 1.0% in February compared with January. It increased by 3.8% year-on-year, the ONS said.

Samuel Tombs, economist at the Capital Economics research group, said the figures "provide reassurance that the economic recovery has remained strong and broad-based" in Britain.

He added, "February's industrial production figures confirm that the recovery in the manufacturing sector still has plenty of momentum. The solid 0.9-percent monthly rise in industrial production -- the largest for eight months -- largely reflected a 1.0% increase in manufacturing output."

Overall, Britain's economy expanded by 1.7% last year, the strongest growth since before the financial crisis, and is forecast by the government to rally by 2.7% in 2014 ahead of next year's general election.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2014