GDP growth slowed from the 0.6% figure recorded between September and December, the latest ONS Gross domestic product, preliminary estimate report revealed.
A drop in production output (down 0.4%), traditionally a measure of the strength of the manufacturing sector, partly fuelled to the downturn. Construction (down 0.9%) suffered an ever more disappointing quarter.
But James Selka, CEO of the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), insisted the figures “shouldn't be taken as a sign that the whole of the sector is languishing in the doldrums”.
“Much of the high-value advanced manufacturing that is being driven by the latest technology, sectors like aerospace and automotive, continues to thrive and invest,” he said.
Ruth Miller, Capital Economics UK economist, told the BBC she didn’t expect the slowdown to become a long-term trend.
"Many of the factors likely to be to blame for the first quarter's weakness should prove short-lived. We would not be surprised if growth were to subsequently accelerate in the second half of the year, putting the economy back on track," she said.
