Office for National Statistics said, production output fell by 1.4% for Quarter 2 (Apr to Jun) 2019, compared with Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2019 reversing the 1.1% increase in Quarter 1 2019.

The quarterly fall in manufacturing of 1.4% is the strongest fall since Quarter 1 2009, due mainly to widespread weakness with 10 of the 13 subsectors decreasing; led by strong decreases from transport equipment (5.2%), chemicals and chemical products (6.2%) and basic metals (2.4%).

Production output fell by 0.1% between May 2019 and June 2019 despite rises from three of the four main sectors; the manufacturing sector provided the only downward contribution, falling by 0.2%.

Monthly manufacturing output highlights a mixed picture with only 7 of the 13 subsectors falling, so overall growth is due mainly to falls in basic metals (2.8%) and computer, electronic and optical products (3.5%).

For Quarter 2 (Apr to Jun) 2019 compared with Quarter 2 2018, production output decreased by 0.5%, with falls in manufacturing (0.9%) and electricity and gas (0.3%); partially offset by rises in mining and quarrying (1.9%) and water and waste of (0.9%).