In a further indication that the economic decline is hitting UK pretty badly, the new from the manufacturing sector is pretty grim.





UK manufacturing output fell at its fastest pace since 1981 in November, official figures showed, underlining the fragile state of the economy.
Output fell 7.4% from a year earlier - the biggest drop since June 1981. On a monthly basis, the fall was 2.9%, the Office for National Statistics said.
The news is likely to reinforce expectations that policymakers need to do more to stave off a deep recession.
The Bank of England cut interest rates to 1.5% on Thursday, a 315-year low.

source: bbc