But the purchasing managers' index (PMI) - a composite indicator of economic activity from CIPS and NTC Research, where 50 means no change on the previous month - fell to 53.2, from 55.8 in January.

The latest rise in output, at 55.9, was slower than January's 58, reflecting lower growth in new orders (53.7) and new export orders (53.6). Domestically, spending...