Industrial production in the UK increased by 0.5% month-on-month in December 2024, recovering from an upwardly revised 0.5% decline in November and surpassing market expectations of a 0.2% rise.
UK industrial production rebounds in December
The recovery was driven by improvements in mining and quarrying, which rose by 1.5% after a 1.8% contraction the previous month, and manufacturing, which grew by 0.7% compared to a 0.3% decline in November.
At the same time, the decline in electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply eased to -0.6% from -2.0%, signaling a slight recovery in energy production. However, production in the water supply, sewerage, and waste management sector tumbled by 0.4%, reversing the 1.4% growth in November.
UK industrial output drops 1.9% in December
Every year, industrial output fell by 1.9% in December, slightly improving from an upwardly revised 2% decline in November and coming in better than the expected 2.1% decrease. Despite the annual decline, the monthly rebound suggests some stabilization in the industrial sector heading into 2025.
