British Industrial Output Dips: Official Data
Industrial output across Britain surprisingly slid in March after a solid gain seen the previous month, official data showed on Friday.
Output fell by 0.1 percent in March compared with a jump of 0.8 percent in February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement.
The February level was revised down slightly from a previous reading showing a gain of 0.9 percent, while analysts' consensus forecast had been for zero growth output in March.
Over a 12 month period, industrial output jumped by 2.3 percent in March, the ONS added.
Manufacturing output -- which excludes mining and quarrying, electricity, gas and water supply -- grew by 0.5 percent in March compared with February. It increased by 3.3 percent year-on-year.
Separately, the ONS also announced that Britain's official trade-in-goods deficit improved to £8.5 billion ($14.4 billion, 10.4 billion euros) in March, from £8.7 billion in February.
Exports of goods rose by 4.9 percent in March from February to £24.6 billion, reflecting increased exports of manufactured products, including jewellery and cars.
Imports grew 2.8 percent to £33.1 billion, driven partly by a large jump in the imports of aircraft.
Source: Agence France Presse
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