THE manufacturing industry showed signs of recovery last night after official figures revealed the sector started the year with modest growth.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said manufacturing output increased by 0.2 per cent in January - the third consecutive monthly rise and the longest such run since April to July last year.
Month-on-month output grew 0.3 per cent in December and 0.5 per cent in November, although this was not enough to stop manufacturing slide one per cent in the fourth quarter as a whole.
Industrial output, which includes mining and oil and gas exploration, also rose more than expected in January and for the third month running - the longest period of expansion in nearly four years.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article