UK recovery gathering momentum after 'stunning' rise in manufacturing

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Britain's recovery is gathering momentum on the back of a "stunning" resurgence in manufacturing, economists said, as advertising spending - another economic bellwether - bounced back to levels not seen since the recession struck.

Factory output rose by 1.1% in March following a 0.7% increase in February, according to the Office for National Statistics, outstripping the ONS's original estimate of 0.8% and defying forecasters' more gloomy predictions, the Telegraph reports. It was the first time in two years that manufacturing enjoyed growth for two consecutive months. Peter Dixon of Commerzbank called the figures "stunning", saying they showed the UK "is getting back on its feet" following growth of 0.3% in the first quarter. Nida Ali, economic adviser to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club, added: "There is a good ...

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