The rate of furniture production during December 2024 registered a monthly uptick, while the value in domestic goods was down on the previous month but up against last year.
According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, the rate of furniture production rose by 1.3% compared to November, while falling 0.8% on December last year.
Production output is estimated to have grown by 0.5% in December 2024, following a revised fall of 0.5% in November 2024. The December 2024 growth was a result of a 0.7% growth in manufacturing and a 1.5% growth in mining and quarrying. Production fell by 0.8% in the three months to December 2024, driven by a decline in manufacturing output.
Meanwhile, the value of the manufacture of furniture for December resulted at £667.3m, down 22.5% from £862m in November. Against the same period last year, the value rose 3.6% from £644m.
As for the value of furniture manufacturer exports, this increased 2.7% to £45.1m for the month from £43.9m. Against last year, exports value fell 48.9% from £88.4m.
The value of domestic furniture manufacture decreased 23.9% to £622.2m from £818.1m in the month, while up 11.9% from £555.6m last year.
Monthly real gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown by 0.4% in December 2024, largely because of growth in the service sector, following an unrevised growth of 0.1% in November 2024.
Commenting on the GDP figures for December, ONS Director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown said: “The economy picked up in December after several weak months, meaning, overall, the economy grew a little in the fourth quarter of last year. Across the quarter, growth in services and construction were partially offset by a fall in production. GDP per head, in contrast, fell back slightly in the quarter.
“In December wholesale, film distribution and pubs and bars all had a strong month, as did manufacturing of machinery and the often-erratic pharmaceutical industry. However, these were partially offset by weak months for computer programming, publishing and car sales.”
