British manufacturing output unexpectedly saw its biggest monthly gain in a year in April, statistics showed today.
Manufacturing rose 0.9 per cent in April, more than the 0.4 per cent expected and after a sharp 1.6 per cent fall in March, the Office for National Statistics said.
Industrial production also rose 0.9 per cent, much more than the 0.3 per cent expected and following a revised 1 per cent drop in March.
Separate figures showed the global goods trade gap widened to £4.8 billion in April from a revised £4.6 billion in March, slightly more than forecast for £4.7 billion.
