British industrial output unexpectedly fell in October as manufacturing was dragged down by a sharp fall in production of electronic products following a strong September.
Output for industry overall fell 0.1% in October having jumped by a revised 0.7% in September, the Office for National Statistics said today.
Manufacturing output tumbled 0.7% - its biggest monthly decline since May - hit by a 4.5% fall in computer, electronic and optical products.
Pharmaceutical and chemical goods also weighed on the factory sector, the ONS said.
The ONS said there was no sign of significantly different levels of demand for British exports, which economists have said could be hit by the slowdown in the euro zone.
Economists had forecast a 0.2% increase in industrial and manufacturing output in October. On the year, industrial and manufacturing output were up 1.1%and 1.7% respectively.
Despite today's numbers, there are signs that Britain's economy will avoid a sharp slowdown at the end of the year.
A business survey published last week showed British manufacturing held up in November as demand from domestic orders softened the hit to factories from a fall in export orders.
In a reminder of the weakness of demand among in Britain's main trading partners in the euro zone, German industrial orders rose by a less than expected 0.2% in October, according to data published yesterday.
Meanwhile, figures today showed German imports posted their steepest drop in almost two years in October.
Britain looks set to grow more strongly than other big industrialised economies this year but the recovery has been largely reliant on consumer spending so far, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of the upturn.
The Bank of England has signalled it will keep interest rates low well into 2015 as earnings struggle to grow more than inflation which remains weak.
September's strong performance was linked to a jump in output at UK car plants and North Sea oil and gas after longer than usual shutdowns in August.
In October, oil and gas production rose again but less strongly than in September, rising 2.8%, and car output was also up less strongly.
UK manufacturing has further to go to catch up on its deep slump after the 2008 financial crisis. Factory output is still 5.5% below its peak, while services sector output is already well above its pre-crisis peak.
