Monthly production output rose by 0.9% between April and May 2022, reaching a level that was 0.5% below February 2020; this was the last month of "normal" trading conditions before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The monthly rise in output resulted from strength in two of the four production sectors, with manufacturing rising by 1.4% and electricity and gas by 0.3%; in contrast, mining and quarrying fell by 2.7%, and water supply and sewerage by 0.2%. Manufacturing saw widespread strength with 12 of its 13 sub-sectors positively contributing to growth during May; most notably, other manufacturing and repair ... (full story)