The rise of 0.3% in total production output for the three months to October 2018, compared with the three months to July 2018, is due primarily to rises of 1.8% in electricity and gas supply and 2.7% in mining and quarrying.

Three monthly total manufacturing output is flat, with growth in basic metals (1.7%) and transport equipment (1.2%), partially offset by a fall of 2.8% in pharmaceutical products.

In October 2018, total production output fell by 0.6%, compared with September 2018, due to a fall of 0.9% in manufacturing; this was partially offset by a 1.8% increase in mining and quarrying.

The monthly decrease in manufacturing output of 0.9% was due mainly to weakness from transport equipment, falling by 3.2% and pharmaceutical products, falling by 5.0%; 5 of the 13 manufacturing subsectors increased.