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British manufacturing PMI edges up to 53.0 in Jan

Xinhua, February 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

The British manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI), a gauge of industry activities, edged up to 53.0 in January this year from the revised 52.7 in December 2014, Markit Economics said on Monday.

The data was above the market estimates consensus of 52.8, and has remained above the neutral 50.0 mark since April 2013. A figure above 50 suggests that the sector is expanding.

British manufacturing started 2015 on firm footing, as the growth of output and new orders ticked higher following the slowdown seen through much of the latter half of 2014, said the London-based market researcher.

Manufacturing output expanded for the 23rd consecutive month in January, underpinned by a further increase in new incoming orders, and the domestic market remained the prime driver of improved new orders inflows, said Markit.

New businesses from overseas and job creation in the industry also saw growth in January, and average input costs encountered a steep drop over the same period, data showed.

Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit, said: "The big mover in the latest survey was the input prices index, as the recent slump in oil prices saw manufacturers' purchasing costs fall at one of the fastest rates seen over the past 16 years." Endit