Output Increase Of 2.7%

There were increases in production output of 3.8% in manufacturing, 8.5% in water and waste management and 0.2% in mining and quarrying which contributed to the increase of 2.7% in total production output over the year between February 2013 and February 2014. Only electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning reported a decrease of 8.8% due it was thought to this year's warmer February.

The main manufacturing sectors that added to the increase over the year were rubber and plastic products, transport equipment and machinery.

Total production over the month between January and February 2014 increased by 0.9% mainly due to increases in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, transport equipment and food, drink and tobacco.

Output Up By 2.9%

Production output increased by 2.9% over the year to January 2014. Manufacturing, the largest component of production figures, increased by 3.3% and water supply, sewerage and waste management increased 12.6%.

Of the manufacturing components, the main contributors to the 3.3% increase were rubber, plastic products and other non-metallic mineral products manufacturing, the manufacture of machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified and the manufacture of transport equipment.

Production output increased by 0.1% over the month between December 2013 and January 2014. All sectors increased except mining and quarrying which decreased by 3.4%. The remaining sectors all of which reported an increase grew by 0.4%.

The main components contributing to the increase over the month were the manufacture of rubber, plastic products and other non-metallic mineral products, the manufacture of machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified and other manufacturing and repair.

The second estimate of GDP suggested the economy grew by 0.7%. Three of he four main groupings experienced growth with agriculture experiencing a decline of 0.1%. Services and construction grew by 0.8% and 0.2% respectively. Services continues to be the main contributor to growth.

1% Fall In Production

Production fell by 1% over the year to April 2012 according to figures on the Index of Production from the ONS. Manufacturing fell by 0.3%. Production remained unchanged over the month March to April but manufacturing fell 0.7% over that period.

In more detail, the electricity, gas, steam & air conditioning sector rose by 13.6%, mining & quarrying fell by 5.7% which together with the fall in manufacturing offset the gains slightly. The water and waste management sector was unchanged. The food sector also fell by 5.7% over the year, chemical products fell by 0.9%.

Some sectors grew, electrical equipment grew by 16.5%, transport equipment by 8.8%, machinery and equipment by 6.4% and computer, electronic and optical by 6.2% over the year. The computing sector also saw the biggest growth over the month with an increase of 8.1% while pharmaceuticals fell by 6%.

Production Down By 0.8%

The index of production produced by the ONS fell 0.8% in May this year compared with May last year. In the month between April and May the index rose by 0.9%. Manufacturing increased by 2.8% in May over the year and by 1.8% over the month between April and May 2011.

The main contribution to the upward movement in manufacturing was a 3.8% increase in the manufacture of machinery and equipment and other machinery which increased by 7.2%.

Agricultural Producer Prices Up In March

In the monthly API of prices received by producers of agricultural products for March 2011 cereals went up to 251 from 247.9, industrial crops fell to 148.1 from 150.2 and fresh vegetables fell to 129.1 from 141.5. Seeds remained stable. Animal and animal products increased from 146.7 to 150.5 with animals for slaughter or export increasing from 150.4 to 156.4. The total of all products increased to 167.5 in March 2011 from 163.5 in February 2011.

Annual statistics for 2010 show cereals have increased to 171.8 from 150.1 in 2009, industrial crops to 138.8 to 132 and fresh vegetables to 131.9 from 113.9. The total of all crop products increased to 149.2 from 131.1. The total of all products index increased to 144.4 in 2010 from 136 in 2009.

Prices paid by producers for agricultural inputs in March 2011 included energy and lubricants increased in price from an index of 164.3 to 169.6, fertilizers and soil improvers increased from 223.6 to 227.9, plant protection products fell slightly from 103.7 to 103.6 and seeds remained stable. Animal feed fell from 191.6 to 188.7. Maintenance costs generally increased with repair of plant increasing to 132.1 from 131.3 and buildings from 136.7 to 137.4. Veterinary services costs remained stable at 123.9. Other goods and services fell considerably from 150.2 to the more usual 128.9. Machinery and other equipment increased slightly from 125.6 to 126.3 qand buildings from 130 to 132.5. The total for all means of agricultural production fell from 154.9 in February 2011 to 149 in March 2011.

In the annual series, the total of all means of agricultural production increased to 135.8 from 129.9. Within the total, there were increases in the prices of energy and lubricants which increased to 151.4 from 132.9 and animal feed which increased to 160.9 from 152.5. Maintenance costs increased from 121.5 to 126.9 for plant and 122 to 130.4 for buildings. Veterinary costs increased from 104.7 in 2009 to 118.8 in 2010. Machinery and equipment went from 122.1 to 125.3. Buildings increased to 126.9 from 120. There were some decreases. Fertilizers and soil improvers fell to 182.4 in 2010 from 189.8 in 2009 after the massive increases of 2008 (272.5) mainly due to price falls in compound fertilizers and the lime/chalk fertilizers and plant protection products fell across the board from 107.7 to 105.1.

Agricultural Prices Good For Producers In October

The agricultural prices indices statistical relaease from Defra for October 2010 shows prices received by producers for agricultural products increased slightly in October 2010 and purchase prices paid by producers for agricultural products excluding subsidies decreased slightly.

The prices indices for prices received by producers for cereals increased to 218.8 in October 2010 from 197.1 in September 2010. Industrial crops prices increased to 139.7 from 138.3. Fresh vegetables increased in price from 121.3 to 130.9. and the total index number for crop products was 166.2 up from 157.6 in September. Animals and animal products indices total was 139.7 from 139.2 in September 2010. The overall total was 150.6 up from 148.0.

Prices indices for prices paid by producers for agriculural products included seeds at 117.0 from 99.6, energy and lubricants 151.2 from 147.4, fertilizers and soil improvers decreased to 198.4 from 230.4. Plant protection products price index increased to 106.0 from 105.7. Animal feedingstuffs indices totalled 166.1 up from 163.3. The plant maintenance and repair index remained unchanged at 128.1. The maintenance and repair of buildings index increased slightly to 133.1 from 133.0. Veterinary services increased slightly from 132.8 to 132.9. Machinery and other equipment went up to 126.9 from 126.6. The total index for all goods and services contributing to investment decreased to 120.1 from 120.4. All means of agricultural production decreased from 140.7 to 136.9 in Octber 2010.

Manufacturing Increases 5.8%

Production increased by 3.3% in October according to the index of production from the ONS. Manufacturing increased by 5.8%. The main contributors to the increase in the manufacturing index were an increase of 1.4% in machinery and equipment and 1.3% from basic metals and metal products. Capital goods increased by 8.4% and intermediate goods and energy by 1.2%. Mining and quarrying fell by 7.2%, oil and gas extraction alone by 8%. Electricity, gas and water supply increased by 0.7%. Consumer durables fell by 5.2% while non-durables increased by 4.3%.

Production Continues To Grow

The index of production for September was 3.8% higher than September 2009. The index for October 2010 rose by 3.3% compared with 2009. The index of manufacturing was 4.8% higher in September and 5.8% higher in October. Output increased in 10 of the 13 sub-sectors in both September and October and fell in 2 in September and 3 in October with the largest increases in machinery and equipment and basic metals and metal products in both months with increases of 21% and 12.6% respectively in September and 16.8% and 13.7% respectively in October.

In the euro area industrial production increased by 5.2% in September 2010 compared with September 2009 and 5.8% in the EU27. Capital goods grew by 7.5% in euro area and 8.7% in EU27, intermediates by 6.8% and 7.5% respectively, energy by 1.8% and 0.8%, non-durables by 1.6% and 2.5% respectively and durables by 0.2% in euro area and 2.2% in EU27.

Production Up By 3.8%, Manufacturing 4.8%

Production increased by 3.8% in September 2010 compared with September last year, 3.3% on the same quarter last year, 0.4% compared with last month and 0.6% compared with the last quarter.

Manufacturing increased by 4.8% compared with September 2009. The largest increases were in machinery and equipment with 21% and basic metals and metal products with 12.6%. There was a 52.5% rise in the manufacture of machinery for the production of mechanical power and 22.7% for the manufacture of other kinds of special purpose machinery. The processing and treatment of metals increased by 17.4% and the manufacture of basic metals by 13.7%.

4.2% Rise In Production

The index of production increased by 4.2% in August compared with August 2009. The manufacturing index showed an increase of 6% over the same period. The annual index also showed that 10 of the 13 sub-sectors increased production but it fell in 3 sub-sectors. The biggest increases were in machinery and equipment with 16% and food, drink and tobacco with 7.7%. The main contributors sectors within machinery and equipment were machinery for the production of mechanical power with a 41% increase and the manufacture of 'other special machinery' with 26.4%. The processing and preserving of fish, fruit and vegetables was the main contributor in the food, drink and tobacco sub-sector with 32.8% growth and next came bread, biscuits, pastry goods and cake with 15.3%.

Manufacturing Helps Production Index

The ONS index of production for July 2010 increased by 1.9% on last year. The index of manufacturing increased by 4.9%. Analysis of the figures for the most recent month on last year shows that 9 of the 13 manufacturing sub-sectors increased by 4 fell. Machinery and equipment and basic metals and metal products reported the largest increases.

Producer Prices Index Of Agricultural Products

The producer prices index of agricultural products for cereals was 114.9 in February 2010 down from 116.1 in January. The annual series index of cereals in 2009 was 150.1 down from 207.1 in 2008 an unusually high index in the series since 2003. Industrial crops for February increased from 123.8 to 124.6 and vegetables decreased from 127.3 to 121.6. Animals and animal products decreased from 143.2 to 140.9. The all products total index decreased slightly from 137.4 to 136.6 in February. The total of all products index for 2009 decreased from 143.3 to 135.5.

The purchase prices index of agricultural inputs includes seeds, crop protection products and fertilizers as well as feedingstuffs and energy. Seeds were unchanged at 104.5 in February, sprays were also unchanged at 99.9 but the fertilizer index increased from 209.8 in January to 214.7 in February 2010. The index of feedingstuffs increased from 154.3 to 156.2 over the month between January and February. The energy and lubricants index decreased from 152.8 to 149.1. The maintenance and repair of plant index was 125.3 from 125.4, of buildings 125.8 from 123.8, veterinary services went from 105.2 from 105.0. Cultivation and harvesting machinery, tractors and other machinery and equipment increased from 125.0 to 125.1. Buildings increased from 122.1 to 123.6. The index of all means for agricultural production for February 2010 went up to 122.2 from 121.7 in January and for 2009 the index was down to 133.1 from the sharp increase to 139.6 in 2008 from 113.8 in 2007.

Sales Growth On The High Street Expected To Continue

Retailers have seen growth for the second month running according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey for March. The trend is expected to continue through Easter. Sales volumes were reported to be higher than the same time last year as expected. The volume of orders also grew for the second month in a row. Stock levels are more than adequate to meet demand. Very strong sales were reported by grocers, durable household goods, clothing, furniture and carpet retailers. Hardware, china and DIY reported falling sales for the second month. The wholesale sector also saw a fall in sales against expectations. There was strong sales growth in the food and drink sector but agricultural machinery sales and builders merchants had a difficult month. Motor traders also had another bad month due to a drop in vehicle sales while parts and accessories sales grew for a second month.

Falls In Manufacturing Output In October

Another survey from the ONS reports that manufacturing output has fallen in the three months to October by 0.5%. Between September and October manufacturing output did not significantly change.

There were falls in 12 of the 13 manufacturing sub-sectors including food, drink and tobacco, fuels, chemicals and metals, wood and wood products, pulp, paper, printing and publishing. There were significant rises in textiles, leather and clothing, transport equipment, electrical and optical and 'other' manufacturing. Manufacturing output is now 9.9% lower than the same quarter last year.

The index of production fell by 8.4% in October compared with October 2008. The index of manufacturing fell by 7.8% over the same period. The largest falls in manufacturing were in machinery and equipment at 17.8% and the base metals and metal products sector at 15.7%.

Agricultural Prices Index For September 2009

The agricultural producer and purchase prices indices for 2008-9 to September 2009 were published by DEFRA last week. The survey includes producer price indices for cereals, industrial crops, fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, flowers and plants and other crop products as well as for animals and animal products. The survey includes purchase price indices for seeds, energy and lubricants, plant protection products and animal feedingstuffs. It also includes costs for the maintenance and repair of plant and buildings, veterinary services, costs of other goods and services, machinery, plant and other equipment and buildings. The totals for all products and all means of agricultural production are also included in the survey.

The indices for all products were 143.3 for 2008 from 118.8 for 2007 and 130.2 in September 2009 from 130.8 in August and the indices for all the means of agricultural production were 130 for September 2009 from 131.1 in August and 139.7 for 2008 from 113.8 in 2007 (2005 = 100).

Not Much Change In Retail Trades

Retailers reported yet another fall in retail sales volumes for the first two weeks of June compared with last year in the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey results. The decline was more or less what was expected, more than last month but not as much as the previous month and nothing like the falls that have been witnessed during the last year. Retailers also reported that they expect sales to fall for another month in July. Stocks are more than adequate to meet demand so retailers have been slowly cutting back on orders with their suppliers. Sectors to see some growth include grocers and furniture and carpets. Durables, hardware, china, DIY and clothing showed sharp declines. The fall in the wholesale sector was sharper than the previous two months. If the fall extends into July it will be the thirteenth month in a row of falling sales. The hardest hit were the industrial and builders merchants wholesalers. Agricultural machinery and food and drink wholesalers saw no change on the year. The scrappage scheme may have had something to do with the motor sectors best sales figures for over a year.

Low Production Figures But Non-Durables Up

The index of production for the first quarter saw a 5.3% decrease quarter on quarter and 12.1% decrease on the first quarter of 2008. Manufacturing was 5.5% lower and electricity, gas and water decreased 3.5% on the previous quarter. Manufacturing also showed the lowest rate of decline for 13 consecutive months with a 0.1% decrease between February and March. The March index was 88.0.

In the main industrial groups output of durable goods fell 8.0% on previous quarter, consumer non-durable goods went up 0.3% on February, capital itmes were 8.9% lower and intermediate goods and energy 6.6% lower than last quarter. Other significant falls included machinery and equipment.