Britain's manufacturing sector recorded its biggest monthly drop in almost a decade in September, according to figures released today.
National Statistics said manufacturing output plunged by 1.6% in the month, the biggest drop since May 1992 and much worse than analysts' forecasts of a 0.7% fall.
Production was down 3.7% on an annual basis, compared with a 2.3% fall in August. One of the biggest falls recorded in September was a 6% slump in output from the high-tech industries.
British manufacturing is now in its third recession in a decade. The Bank of England is widely expected to knock another quarter-point off its 4.5% key lending rate when it meets on Thursday to help protect the overall economy from recession.
