UK industrial production down more than expected in March
Monthly production fell 0.7% in March after expanding in previous month
ISTANBUL
Industrial production in the UK contracted 0.7% month-on-month in March, more than expected, according to official data released on Thursday.
This rebound followed an upwardly revised rise of 1.7% in February, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed.
Markets had expected the figure to post a fall of 0.6% in March.
The fall in monthly output was driven by declines in manufacturing (0.8%), mining and quarrying (1.2%), and electricity and gas (0.7%).
"The increase in manufacturing output during Quarter 1 2025 saw rises in 10 of its 13 subsectors," the ONS said.
"The largest of the seven negative contributions to manufacturing output in March 2025 came from similar-sized decreases in 'computer, electronic and optical products' (down 8.4%) and 'basic pharmaceutical products' (down 5.8%); this is mainly a fallback, following strength from both subsectors during February 2025, when they increased by 9.8% and 4.4%, respectively," it added.
In the first quarter of 2025, production output climbed 1.1% on a quarterly basis.
On an annual basis, production contracted 0.7% in March, below market forecasts of a 0.9% contraction.
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