Slim rise for UK manufacturing output

New official manufacturing output data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show output rising by 0.1 per cent in September 2012 compared with August 2012, following a fall of 1.2 per cent between July and August 2012. Seven manufacturing sub sectors rose and six fell. The largest contributions to the month on month rise came from the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, which rose by 2.6 per cent, followed by the manufacture of transport equipment which rose by 1.4 per cent. Nevertheless, output was still down 1.0 per cent in September 2012 compared with September 2011. Commenting on the data, Lee Hopley, chief economist at the manufacturers' organisation EEF, said September's modest "uptick" in output pointed to the fact that there was "some growth still out there for manufacturers". She continued: "While concerns around the global outlook are set to dominate through the remainder of this year, there are a number of sectors across manufacturing that are continuing to post month on month growth despite the more challenging backdrop." However, Markit chief economist Chris Williamson labelled the data "disappointing", commenting that the 0.1% in September had been achieved against expectations of a 0.3% increase. "Prospects look especially grim for October," he added.