Production output decreased by 3.2% in 3 months to April and was 12.6% down on last year. Manufacturing was also down 2.8% and the mining and quarrying industries by 4.0% on the quarter and 9.3% on the year. The most significant rises in the manufacturing industry were 3.2% in the transport equipment industries, 2.3% in chemicals and 1.6% in paper, printing and publishing. The utilities were down 5.5%. It was similar for basic metals and metal products at 2.2%.
In the three main market sectors, output of consumer durable goods fell by 4.7%, non-durables were 1.9% up on the quarter and 0.8% up on the month. Capital goods were 5.6% down on the last quarter but 0.8% up on the month. Output of intermediate goods and energy were also lower. Food, drink and tobacco were up on the last quarter with a 1.6% increase.
The ONS's Index of Production is an important short-term indicator of industrial activity. It is a monthly time series covering 18.0% of the UK economy.
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