The preliminary for this was 57.2 & prior 55.7

A strong result indeed:

  • Output growth accelerated to the fastest in just over three years
  • production surge fueled by the largest inflow of new orders recorded over the past three years
  • new export orders continued to fall, the rate of decline moderated to one of the lowest seen since the pandemic began,
  • Rising orders were seen for all main types of product
  • business expectations for the year ahead up slightly, 56% of firms expect output to rise in the coming year against 5% expecting a decline
  • Employment ... the fourth rise in the past five months