Monthly production fell by 1.3% between March 2021 and April 2021 meaning output was 3.1% below its February 2020 level, the last month of "normal" trading conditions prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The fall in production was driven by decreases of 15.0% in mining and quarrying, 0.3% in manufacturing, and 0.9% in water supply and sewerage; these were offset partially by a rise in electricity and gas of 0.5%. The 0.3% fall in manufacturing over the month was driven by lower output in 5 of the 13 manufacturing subsectors and was led by a fall of 16.0% in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products ... (full story)