UK industrial output rose unexpectedly in April for the first time since February 2008, official figures have shown.
The Office for National Statistics said output rose by 0.3% from the previous month, compared with forecasts by analysts of just a 0.1% rise.
Manufacturing rose 0.2%, which was also an unexpected rise.
Commenting on the figures, David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), says: “Manufacturing output has recorded a modest increase, which is better than analysts expected.