British industrial output fell by 3.1 percent in November due to weak economy and sluggish demand, official data showed on Thursday.

    According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the seasonally adjusted index of production for industrial sectors fell by 3.1 percent in November compared with the same period of 2010, the biggest drop since December 2009.

    The industrial output in November shrank by 0.6 percent month on month.

    Seasonally adjusted manufacturing output, which excludes utilities and oil and gas extraction, fell by 0.2 percent month on month in November and was down by 0.6 percent year on year.

    The fall in industrial production was mainly due to decreasing oil and gas extraction, which fell by 2.1 percent on the month, the ONS said.

    Between November 2010 and November 2011, energy supply decreased by 8.6 percent, gas supply dropped by 23.7 percent and electricity supply fell by 3.9 percent.

    In the three months ending November 2011, energy supply fell by 2.2 percent and gas supply decreased by 12.3 percent, mainly due to reduced demand for gas in the production of electricity.

(Source:Xinhua)