British manufacturing output increased by 0.9% in July from June, beating analyst expectations and suggesting Britain could soon exit recession.
Output in July on a 12-month basis slumped 10.1%, the UK Office for National Statistics said in a statement.
Market expectations had been for a 0.4% monthly rise and an annual slide of 9.9%, according to Dow Jones Newswires.
The ONS said a wider measure of industrial production, which includes mining, quarrying and energy, grew 0.5% in July from June and was down 9.3% year-on-year.