The start of 2020 saw the performance of the UK manufacturing sector steady following the downturn experienced through much of last year. Reduced levels of political uncertainty following the general election led to mild recoveries in new orders and business confidence and a stabilisation of production volumes. Overseas demand remained a constraint, however, as new export orders fell for the third straight month. The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) rose to a nine-month high of 50.0 in January, identical to its no-change mark and above December's reading of 47.5. The PMI last ... (full story)