A severe decline in manufacturing caused the UK economy to contract by 0.4% in April. The ONS said that while output was up from a year earlier, it remained below its pre-recession peak. The manufacturing sector contracted by 3.9% over the month, its worst decline since 2002, due to planned shutdowns by car producers, which feared the UK would crash out of the EU without a deal in March.
A severe decline in manufacturing caused the UK economy to contract by 0.4% in April. The figure represents the country's worst monthly growth performance in three years, with economists blaming the prolonged uncertainty surrounding Brexit for the results. The manufacturing sector contracted by 3.9% over the month, its worst decline since 2002, due to planned shutdowns by car producers, which feared the UK would crash out of the EU without a deal in March.