Black cab maker Manganese Bronze has said sales of its distinctive London taxis are down, in a sign that the economy remains subdued. The company said 2,065 black cabs have been sold or registered in the UK since August, down from 2,264 during the same period one year earlier.
Black cab sales, which depend on consumers' willingness to spend money on taxi fares, are seen as a bellwether for the wider economy.
Manganese Bronze's annual sales total has fluctuated either side of unchanged for the last few months, in a sign that underlying demand is flat.
However, in what may mark the beginning of an upturn, black cab sales in June rose to 192 from 179 during the same period last year.
Manganese Bronze shares closed up 2p at 68.5p.
The company, which also makes bus doors and car components, racked up pre-tax losses of �1.9m in the six months to late January, up from �1.8m during the same period one year earlier.
Last year, Manganese was hit by delays to the launch of its 'Zingo' mobile cab hailing system, and also saw a licensing deal to manufacture cabs in China come unstuck.
One-Minute World News 
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