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11 June 2007

Manufacturing Performance 2006-7

The first edition of the new EEF Manufacturing Performance report sets out the contribution of manufacturing to economic performance. In summary:

  • Manufacturing accounts for around 15% of total gross value added.
  • Manufacturing continues to make a significant contribution to trade – accounting for 54% of total UK exports.
  • Business R&D spending is driven by UK manufacturing – over three-quarters of total business R&D expenditure is carried out by manufacturing companies.
  • Output has recovered in 2006 after a weaker performance in 2005 – according to both the official data and EEF's survey evidence.
  • Manufacturing and engineering output were 1.5% and 2.1% higher in 2006q3 compared with a year ago.
  • For the first nine months of 2006, output rose by 1.8%, which outpaced the rest of the UK economy as a whole.
  • Business Trends data show output and orders balance in double digits throughout 2006 with exports leading growth.
  • Manufacturing now plays a larger role in the Southern regions (South East, London, South West) which account for 43% of manufacturing output than in the Northern regions (Yorkshire & Humberside, North West, North East) which claim 39% of manufacturing output.
  • Recent Business Trends results show manufacturing growing in all regions of the UK in 2006.
  • Manufacturing productivity continues to outpace that of the economy as whole.

The report can be downloaded at http://www.engineeringtalk.com/more/346


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