U.K. Manufacturing Shows Signs of Recovery
The United Kingdom's PMI showed a 3% year-over-year rise last month, marking a tiny recovery from what has been a terrible period for its economy. The data were reported by Markit.
According to Bloomberg:
U.K. manufacturing expanded for a second month in January as orders rose and output surged the most since September 2011.
A gauge of factory activity was at 50.8, compared with a revised 51.2 in December, Markit Economics and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply said in London today. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. Separate reports today showed euro-area manufacturing shrank less than initially estimated last month, while Chinese manufacturing expanded.
Britain's economy shrank by a more-than-forecast 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter and the Bank of England said last month that "substantial headwinds to recovery remained." Still, Markit said the fact that its factory index remains above 50 is an encouraging start to 2013.
Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Economy, International Markets
