right here had been signs that good news on inflation could possibly be on the way in which, as a carefully watched indicator confirmed producers’ enter costs falling on the quickest tempo in seven-and-a-half years.

The S&P/CIPS manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) got here to 46.5 for June, marking the fourth straight month beneath the 50 mark which separates growth within the sector from decline. The determine was barely forward of the early studying of 46.2.

But common enter costs declined once more, on the sharpest rate since February 2016, because of decrease gas prices and decreased provide chain pressures. Consumers will hope that decreased prices for producers will quickly filter their approach by way of to costs on the cabinets.

Inflation within the UK was 8.7% in May, unchanged from June.

But Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, stated the figures might merely signify a slowdown, as some economists predict a recession can be required to deliver inflation again underneath management.

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He stated: “Although some respite is being offered in the short-term by reduced pressures on supply chains and costs, these remain a symptom of the current weakness of demand faced by the sector and are therefore unlikely to play a role in boosting production moving forward.”

Glynn Bellamy, UK Head of Industrial Products for KPMG, echoed the same sentiment: “Supply chain conditions and lead times continue to improve, and some associated input costs are reducing - but so are new orders.

“That drying up of new work from domestic and export markets, along with continued destocking, is holding back UK manufacturing output - threatening jobs and investment.  Rising interest rates, and a faster lowering of inflation in some global markets, threatens to further challenge the UK’s manufacturing competitiveness.”

On the PMI figures, Dr. John Glen, chief economist on the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, stated: “The downturn in the manufacturing sector gathered pace in June with the PMI at its lowest level since December and has now signalled contraction in every month for almost a year.

“A combination of depressed sales from domestic and overseas markets and strong price pressures hanging around has resulted in levels of new business reducing for the third month in a row. Brexit-related controls impacted on levels of new orders from the EU but there were signs of some pick up in the Middle East as economies around the world showed some improvement at varying speeds.”