The latest Index of Production figures for March 2016 show again the volatility in production levels within the fashion and textiles sector. Textiles production was slightly up on February with production levels remaining steady since the start of 2015.
However, despite very strong employment and export figures, apparel continued on its recent rollercoaster, with the Index of Production down for the second consecutive month after strong performance in Autumn 2015. Leather production fell again although less sharply than in February 2015. However, leather still remains above the 2012 levels and continues to perform more strongly than the other parts of the sector.
Figure 1: Index of Production (2012=100)
Source: Office for National Statistics
