Weak UK industry data set to weigh on economic growth

Crude steel production falls to lowest since December 2008 while manufacturing output drops 1.8% year on year

A slump in manufacturing output and drop in steel production to a seven-year low have fanned fears that the UK economy is losing steam and becoming increasingly unbalanced.

Official figures showed factory output fell by 1.1% in February, a much sharper decline than economists had been expecting. Even before the UK's steel crisis escalated last month, crude steel production weakened in January and February and was the lowest for seven years, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

0.3% fall in total #production in February, within which #manufacturing fell 1.1% https://t.co/dIwo44lVx1 #GDP

Related: Surprise slump in UK manufacturing - business live