- Samuel Tombs, UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics
Manufacturing production in the UK advanced further bolstering optimism about the domestic economy. UK manufacturing as well as industrial production data outperformed major economists' expectations in April being mainly influenced by the weaker cable due to upcoming Britain's EU referendum. According to the latest figures released by the Office of National Statistics, manufacturing production skyrocketed 2.3%, against March's 0.1%, and an expected growth of 0%. Industrial production, in turn, jumped by 2% in April, adding 0.3% from March, and far above the 0% reading expected. On a yearly pace, manufacturing production added 0.8%, showing much better results than a forecasts for a 1.5% decline as well as after a steep 1.9% drop in March. Concerning industrial production, this data demonstrated an increase of 2.0% following a gain of 0.3% in the preceding month and in line with forecasts.
Meanwhile, analysts warned that despite such a positive figures which provided a strong boost to the economy, it was still too early to say whether the industrial sector had totally strengthened. Moreover, following data spurred the pound, which currently is suffering upcoming Brexit poll's results.
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