UK manufacturing sector stabilizes in March; Markit's UK Manufacturing PMI rises to 49.8 from 48.6 in March as output, new orders rise for first time since January

Cindy Allen

LONDON , May 1, 2013 (press release) – Data collected 12-25 April 2013

Key points:

UK Manufacturing PMI at 49.8 in April, from 48.6 in March
Output and new orders rise for first time since January
Solid inflow of new export orders

Summary:

The UK manufacturing sector showed signs of stabilising at the start of the second quarter of 2013, as levels of production and new orders rose slightly after contracting in the prior two months.

At 49.8 in April, up further from February’s four-month low, the seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS Purchasing Manager’s Index® (PMI®) signalled little change in overall operating conditions in the sector, following contractions in the prior two months.

Apart from the mild gain in new contracts, the modest recovery in production volumes also reflected efforts to clear backlogs of work. Output growth was centred on the consumer and investment goods sectors, although the rate of contraction at intermediate goods producers also eased.

Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI®

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