British manufacturing output grew by 1% in February from January, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, food, drinks and tobacco were all pushing up growth.
The spurt was greater than had been predicted.
Although output was 3.8% higher than in February 2013, the second is still 8.2% smaller than it was at the beginning of 2008.
The manufacturers’ organisation, the EEF, expressed great optimism saying that output is now at its highest level in more than two-and-a-half years and that companies are experiencing good tradition conditions, both in the UK and abroad.
The figures saw the value of the pound rise.
The British Chamber of Commerce said that while the share of manufacturing in the UK economy remained “relatively modest”, it still was “hugely important” to the UK’s economic recovery.
