According to a report released by the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS), in May this year the UK's seasonally adjusted production index of manufacturing fell by 2.9 percent compared to May 2012 and was down by 0.8 percent compared to April. According to the ONS, the main manufacturing components contributing to the month-on-month fall in April were machinery and equipment, rubber and plastic products, and basic metal and metal products.
In the UK, the seasonally adjusted production index of basic metal and metal products fell by 6.1 percent in May compared to May 2012 and was down 4.1 percent compared to the previous month, following a revised month-on-month fall of 1.3 percent in April.