Some idea of the decline seen the UK footwear manufacturing sector in recent years is provided by figures newly-released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

From a manufacturing price index of 112.6 in the first quarter of 1997, (where the benchmark index of 100 is provided by the average of prices in 1995), the industry’s index had fallen to 79.3 in the first quarter of this year. In May 2002, the index fell again, to 78.7, its second-lowest point ever. This compares to an index of 55.8 for the leather tanning and dressing sector and a figure of 79.5 for the luggage, accessories and saddlery sector.

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