UK manufacturers see increases in output and orders

This is the conclusion of the latest Markit/CIPS Purchasing Manager’s Index for UK manufacturing, which posted 56.7 in January. Any figure above 50 indicates growth.

Despite being slightly down on December (57.2) and at its lowest level in three months, it is still well above the series average of 51.3.

Companies have scaled up output in response to stronger inflows of new orders and Markit says there have been reports of improved demand from the domestic market, and rising levels of new business from overseas.

Expansion in new export orders was broad-based, with UK manufacturers mentioning improved demand from North America, mainland Europe, Asia, Brazil, Scandinavia and the Middle-East. The ongoing improvement in global market conditions drove the rate of increase in new export business to a near three-year record.

The ongoing rebound in the sector led to further job creation at the start of the year. January saw employment increase for the ninth successive month, with the rate of jobs growth remaining close to November’s two-and-a-half year high.