The UK manufacturing sector continued to face a tough operating environment in August. Weak market conditions, tariff uncertainties and downbeat client confidence all contributed to a sharp drop in new order intakes, with both domestic and overseas demand slumping. The downturn in production volumes extended into its tenth successive month. The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI®) posted 47.0 in August, down from July's six-month high of 48.0, but below the neutral 50.0 mark for the eleventh month in a row. Production volumes showed comparative resilience in August. ... (full story)