August 08, 2006	Tuesday	Rajab 12, 1427

LONDON, Aug 7: British manufacturing output climbed in June, official data showed on Monday, but at a slower pace than had been forecast by analysts.

The data meanwhile indicated that the Bank of England was unlikely to follow up last week’s surprise interest rate hike with further tightening in the near future, economists said.

The Office for National Statistics revealed that manufacturing output, which excludes energy and mineral extraction, rose by 0.1pc in June, compared with an upwardly revised climb of 0.6pc in May.

Analysts’ consensus forecast had been for a rise of 0.3pc in June.

On a 12-month basis, output was 0.9pc higher in June.

British manufacturing output accounts for 14.7pc of overall economic activity.

The statistics office said there were small rises in output by a number of industries in June, though these were largely offset by a 1.3pc decrease in the chemicals and man-made fibres industries.

The wider measure of industrial production, meanwhile, fell unexpectedly in June from May.

Industrial production dropped by 0.1 percent in June after a downwardly revised 0.2-percent rise in May.

Analysts' consensus forecast had been for a rise of 0.2 percent in June.—AFP