Eurozone manufacturing growth up slightly, but Italy hits 19-month low as France struggles January 2, 2015 After Draghi was doveish, manufacturing data was bearish. The rate of growth for the Eurozone's manufacturing sector was 50.6 compared to the Markit purchasing managers’ index score, where anything above 50 represents growth. The score brings the rate of growth for the quarter to 50.4, bumping along the line between growth and contraction [...]
UK manufacturing slows to three-month low January 2, 2015 UK manufacturing has hit an unexpected blip, slowing to a three-month low in December. The UK purchasing managers' index (PMI), from Markit/CIPS, slowed to 52.5, below the 53.7 score expected by economists polled by Reuters and lower too than the 53.3 recorded in October and November. Any score above 50 points indicates growth. [...]
Eight of Britain’s most endangered professions: Scissor-makers, denim manufacturers and beer barrel crafters December 31, 2014 Britain's fast-dying craft industry risks taking a whole number of valuable and interesting skills with it, according to the Heritage Crafts Association. This is because the skills needed to produce beautifully intricate crafted goods rests in the hands of an ageing population and could be extinct in the next five years. In conjunction with the [...]
Oil price slides further as China manufacturing contracts December 31, 2014 China's manufacturing sector contracted for the first time during December, new figures published this morning showed. HSBC/Markit's China manufacturing PMI fell to 49.6, below the 50-mark which indicates a fall, and down from 50 in November. However, the figure was revised up from an initial "flash" reading earlier in the month, which was 49.5. Last [...]
Chinese manufacturing contracts as industry hits seven-month low December 16, 2014 Chinese manufacturing has hit a speed bump, falling off a six month period of growth to record its lowest score in seven months. According to data from HSBC and Markit, the flash purchasing manager’s index score was 49.5 in December, below the 49.8 predicted by analysts, on a scale where a 50.0 equals growth. It [...]
Manufacturers’ exports hit by weak Eurozone December 9, 2014 THE UK’s manufacturing output dipped in October due to waning export demand from the Eurozone. Total manufacturing output fell by 0.7 per cent in October compared with September, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics yesterday. Industrial production – which includes mining and quarrying, as well as manufacturing – fell 0.1 per [...]
UK manufacturing unexpectedly falls in October December 9, 2014 UK manufacturing posted a surprise fall of 0.7 per cent for October, after rising 0.6 per cent the previous month, according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Economists had been expecting an increase of 0.2 per cent in industrial and manufacturing output for October. The slump was driven primarily by a 4.5 [...]
UK manufacturing growth surprises in November while Eurozone disappoints with German contraction December 1, 2014 The UK's manufacturing sector grew more than expected last month according to Markit's latest Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI), as solid domestic demand offset weaker orders from other markets. Markit’s PMI survey came in at a four-month high of 53.5 in November, ahead of the 53 expected and the revised 53.3 in October, offering a much-needed [...]
Eurozone manufacturing: UK outstrips Europe in the battle of the PMIs November 3, 2014 Manufacturing data published this morning confirmed what many already suspected: manufacturing activity in the UK is outstripping the Eurozone and has opened an economic gap on China. For October, the Eurozone’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was at 50.6, while China’s was at 50.4. Both a hair’s breadth from the 50 point mark that separates [...]
Pound rises as UK manufacturing bounces back November 3, 2014 Having fallen for the past three months, activity in the UK’s manufacturing sector picked up unexpectedly in October, taking analysts by surprise. Markit’s purchasing managers’ index for manufacturing jumped to 53.2 last month, figures out this morning showed. Any reading above 50 denotes expansion in the sector, although in September it fell to [...]