Office for National Statistics said that production output rose by 0.1% between November 2019 and December 2019. Economists had expected a 0.3% increase. Manufacturing providing the largest upward contribution, rising by 0.3%.

The monthly increase of 0.3% in manufacturing output was because of transport equipment, which rose by 3.2%; only 4 of the 13 subsectors displayed upward contributions.

Total production output decreased by 0.8% for Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2019, compared with Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2019; this was led by manufacturing output, which fell by 1.1%.

The quarterly fall in manufacturing is because of widespread weakness, with 11 of the 13 subsectors providing downward contributions; this was led by transport equipment, which fell by 1.9%.

For Quarter 4 2019, production output decreased by 2.0%, compared with Quarter 4 2018; this was led by a fall in manufacturing of 2.5%.

Production output fell by 1.3% in the 12 months to December 2019, compared with the 12 months to December 2018; this is the largest annual fall since 2012 and was led by manufacturing output, which fell by 1.5%.