Rise in UK manufacturing output "disappointing"

Manufacturing output rose by 0.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2011 compared with second quarter of 2011, the eighth consecutive quarter on quarter rise since the third quarter of 2009. The September figure also rose by 0.2 per cent compared with August 2011, the strongest month on month growth since May 2011. Commenting on the data from the Office for National Statistics, Lee Hopley, chief economist at the manufacturers' organisation EEF said it was noticeable that the performance of individual sectors was beginning to diverge, with pockets of strength across the sector such as mechanical equipment and transport standing out in recent months. "However, with the turbulence in external markets showing no signs of abating we are likely to see continued uncertainty about the growth outlook in the months to come," she went on. Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit believed the data demonstrated "a disappointing rate of growth for a sector that was hoped to lead the UK's economic recovery, and growth looks set to weaken further in the final quarter of the year".