UK manufacturing sector suffers worst month in three years

Lack of demand for consumer goods hits output during April as employment in factories falls

Britain's factories suffered their worst month in three years in April as falling export orders and a lack of domestic demand for consumer goods squeezed manufacturing output.

Growth in factory output has been on the slide for a year, but last month the manufacturing sector contracted for the first time since March 2013. Economists believe the decline will drag on GDP growth this year.

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