Manufacturing output increased by 0.3 per cent in the three months to April 2008 compared with the three months to January 2008. Output increased in seven out of the 13 sub-sectors, decreased in five sub-sectors and remained unchanged in one sub-sector.

In the latest three months there were no significant increases but the largest non-significant rise was in the machinery and equipment industries, where output increased by 1.5 per cent. There were no significant decreases in the latest three month period.

Overall production output decreased by 0.1 per cent on a three-monthly basis. There was a decrease in output of 3.2 per cent in the mining and quarrying sector and a decrease of 0.4 per cent in the energy supply sector. Within the mining and quarrying sector there was a decrease in oil and gas extraction output in the latest three months, but an increase in coal extraction output with production problems of early months being resolved. Within the energy supply sector electricity supply output decreased by 1.9 per cent with a continued switch away from coal as the main fuel used in electricity generation. Offsetting this, there was an increase of 4.0 per cent in the gas supply industry with cooler average temperatures across the latest three months than during the same period last year, increasing demand for gas used for heating.

Between March and April manufacturing output increased by 0.1 per cent. Output increased in six of the 13 sub-sectors and decreased in seven sub-sectors in the latest month. There was a significant increase in the transport equipment industries, where output increased by 2.8 per cent. There were no significant decreases in the latest month.

Total production output increased by 0.2 per cent between March and April. Mining and quarrying output decreased by 0.3 per cent but energy supply output increased by 1.6 per cent. Within the energy supply sector there were increases in output of 1.9 per cent in the electricity supply industry, 1.3 per cent in the gas supply industry and 1.2 per cent in the water supply industry.