U.K. Industrial production rose aprovisional 0.4 pct in January after a 0.6 pct decline in
December 1986, figures from the Central Statistical Office
show.
    The index for industrial production, base 1980, was set at
a seasonally adjusted 109.8 in January after December's 109.4
and compared with 108.2 a year earlier.
    Output of manufacturing industries fell a provisional 2.3
pct in January after a 0.2 pct rise last December.
    The index for manufacturing, base 1980, fell to 103.9 from
106.3, and compared with 102.3 a year earlier.
    The CSO said industrial production in the three months to
January was provisionally estimated to have fallen by 0.7 pct
from the level of the previous three months, while
manufacturing output rose by 0.5 pct in the same period.
    In the three months, industrial production was 1.5 pct
higher than in the same period a year earlier, while
manufacturing output was two pct higher.
    Within manufacturing, output of the metals industry rose by
six pct and that of engineering and allied industries by one
pct between the two latest three month periods. Output of
chemicals and textiles fell by one pct and minerals by two pct.
    The Office said output of the investment goods industries
rose 0.1 pct while consumer goods output increased 0.6 pct.
    Output of intermediate goods fell 1.6 pct between the two
latest three-month periods.
    The figures showed the energy production index, base 1980,
rose 7.2 pct in January to 126.4 from December's 117.9 and from
124.6 in January 1986.
    In the latest three months, the energy index, which
comprises oil, natural gas and coal production, was down 3.5
pct on the previous quarter and 0.5 pct below the same period a
year earlier.
 REUTER
