LONDON: Industrial production posted a modest rebound in January as manufacturing and energy production jumped. Output climbed 0.3 from December last year, when it declined 1.1 percent, the Office for National Statistics yesterday said in London.
Economists had forecast a gain of 0.4 percent. Manufacturing rose 0.7 percent and utilities increased production by 4.3 percent after warmer weather hit heating demand in December. Oil and gas extraction fell 6.3 percent, the most since June 2014, as stormy weather affected North Sea facilities. Purchasing-management surveys this month showed indices of manufacturing and services falling to their lowest levels in almost three years in February.
