Manufacturing Helps Index To Grow By 3%

Output increased by 3% over the year between April 2013 and April 2014 according to a statistical bulletin released by the ONS. All the main sectors increased over the year except electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning. Manufacturing increased by 4.4%.

The main components that contributed to the increase in the manufacturing production index were rubber, plastic and other non-metallic mineral products, transport equipment and food, beverages and tobacco.

The monthly comparison shows that production increased by 0.4% between March 2014 and April 2014. Output dipped in two sectors and the largest contributor to this was mining and quarrying with -1.1% then water supply, sewerage and waste management with -0.7%. Manufacturing increased over the month by 0.4% due to increases in transport equipment, computer electronic and optical products and rubber, plastic and other non-metallic mineral products.

First Quarter Increase In Productivity

Productivity increased in the first quarter of 2010 in all four key productivity measures covered by the ONS for the whole economy. Output per worker increased by 1.3% compared with the same time last year and 0.6% on the previous quarter. Output per job increased by 1.6% on last year and 0.6% on previous quarter. Output per hour increased by 1.2% on last year and 0.3% on previous quarter and unit wage costs increased by 3.9% compared with the same time last year and by 1.2% on the previous quarter.

Total productivity output per job was 2.9%. Total manufacturing output per job was 3.7%. The transport equipment sub-section contributed an increase of 25.6% in output per job to the overall manufacturing figure and 21% output per hour worked and 'other non-metallic minerals' contributed an increase of 13.3% in output per job on the same quarter a year ago.

Services increased output per job by 0.4% on the same time last year and 0.3% per job and 0.2% per hour on the previous quarter. Distribution hotels and restaurants increased output per hour by 4.5% on the same quarter a year ago and distribution 6.5%.

The latest available data on agriculture, forestry and fisheries show that output fell by 8.5% per job and by 12% per hour worked in 2009 compared with 2008.