UK manufacturing
Rising output from UK manufacturers helped boost the country's production figures in February Reuters

Britain's production sector continued its solid recovery during the first quarter of 2014.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), production output grew by 2.7% between February 2013 and the same month a year later.

This was largely underpinned by a 3.8% increase in manufacturing output and 8.5% growth in water supply, sewerage and waste management.

However, a warmer February 2014 than a year before led to an 8.8% decrease in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning output off the back off lower demand for energy.

The UK economy grew by 0.7% in 2013, its fastest rate in six years.

Part of the recovery has been driven by a resurgent manufacturing sector, which shrugged off concerns over its long-term decline by bouncing back in 2013.

But they are under pressure from high energy costs, as suppliers crank up prices, and weak global demand for British exports.

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