Manufacturing drops 0.7%
The UK’s manufacturing output dropped by 0.7% between March and April, despite predictions that it would remain flat.
The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, suggest production output remained unchanged over the same period, but dropped by 1% year-on-year.
David Kern from the British Chambers of Commerce said the figures were “not surprising” given the situation in the eurozone, but urged the Bank of England to renew its quantitative easing programme, focussed on small businesses.
“This would only be helpful if the Bank of England stops focusing asset purchases exclusively on gilts and starts purchasing other assets such as securitized SME loans.”