New orders fuel purchasing activity growth
28 August 2012
UK manufacturers increased their purchasing activity in December in response to rising new business at home and abroad, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI).
The overall PMI - a composite indicator of sector conditions from CIPS and NTC Research in which 50 indicates no change on the previous month - fell slightly to 53.7, from 55 in November, owing to lengthening supplier delivery times and falling stocks of purchases.
The quantity of purchases index rose to 53.2, as manufacturers enjoyed more growth in new orders,...