No excuses: slump in UK manufacturing is dismal news | Larry Elliott

Biggest fall in production since 2012 suggests Bank of England's optimism may be misplaced

There was a ready-made explanation when the March manufacturing figures were bad. Falling factory output was all down to the weather - the blizzards brought in by the "beast from the east".

No such excuse is available this time. Manufacturing posted its biggest fall in production in more than five years. It was the third monthly decline running and nine of 13 industrial subsectors said they had cut output. The expected bounce-back in the construction sector was also a lot less vigorous than predicted, while order books for building firms look weak.

Related: UK manufacturing has largest monthly fall in output for five years