British manufacturing output unexpectedly fell in December, official data showed today, as the sector was hit by wintry weather conditions.
Manufacturing output declined by 0.1% in December compared with activity in November, the Office for National Statistics said. That was the first monthly fall since April and confounded market expectations for a 0.4% gain.
Output climbed by 4.4% in December compared with the level one year earlier. That undershot forecasts for a rise of 5.5%.
The ONS added that industrial production, which includes mining and quarrying, as well as electricity, gas, and water supply, rose by 0.5% in December and rose by 3.6% year-on-year.
British gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 0.5% in the three months to December, or fourth quarter of 2010, which was the first drop in economic output since the third quarter of 2009.
The GDP figures, which may be revised later this month, stoked fears that Britain could be heading for a fresh recession.
