UK Manufacturing growth exceeds expectations
April 23rd 2010 UK manufacturing bounced back in February, after cold weather and the withdrawal of government stimulus measures hit output during January. Production surged by over 1 per cent, well above the 0.5 per cent forecast by economists, the Office for National Statistics reported.
The recovery after the cold snap in January bodes well for the final first-quarter growth figures, adding to optimism that the economic recovery is gathering pace.
Meanwhile, manufacturing output recovered even more rapidly, rising 1.3 per cent in the month compared with a 0.7 per cent forecast. The increases are a much needed boost to an industrial sector that has been one of the hardest hit parts of the British economy during the recession, with industrial output remaining 13 per cent below its peak level in 2007.
”The rebound in February was very welcome after the bad weather in January put the brakes on our recovery at the start of 2010. These figures will add to the feelings of optimism in the business world that Britain’s recovery is back on track. Better economic prospects in both here and abroad coupled with a weaker sterling should ensure that cleaning manufacturers will play a key role in an export-led recovery,” says Steve Wright, British Cleaning Council chairman. More articles from British Cleaning Council: | 
