Manufacturing output sank by 0.9 percent in January from December, official data showed on Wednesday, denting hopes of a speedy economic recovery.
However, output in December on a 12-month basis rose by 0.2 percent, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. That was the first increase since March 2008.
The ONS also revealed that a wider measure of industrial production, which includes mining, quarrying and energy, decreased by 0.4 percent in January from December.
"January's UK industrial production figures put a bit of a dent in hopes that the economic recovery might have picked up a bit more speed in the first quarter of the year," said Capital Economics analyst Jonathan Loynes.
Britain emerged from recession in the fourth quarter of 2009 with growth of 0.3 percent -- which ended a record recession that had lasted for six quarters.
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