The UK manufacturing sector made a positive start to 2026, as growth of both output and new orders accelerated and business optimism rose to a near one-and-a-half year high. The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI®) rose to a 17-month high of 51.8 in January, up from 50.6 in December and above the earlier flash estimate of 51.6. The PMI has signalled growth for three consecutive months. Three of the five PMI components were at levels indicating an improvement in overall operating conditions (new orders, output and suppliers' delivery times). Although levels of ... (full story)