New figures deal a fresh blow to hopes of climbing out of recession Britain's manufacturing output slumped by 1.5 percent in January compared with December, official data showed on Tuesday, dealing a fresh blow to the country's hopes of avoiding a fresh recession. The wider measure of industrial production -- which includes mining and quarrying, electricity, gas and water supply -- dropped by 1.2 percent in January from December, the Office for National Statistics added in a statement.
Analysts' consensus forecast had been for manufacturing and industrial output to have each grown by 0.1 percent in January month-on-month, according to a survey by Dow Jones Newswires.