April saw a further acceleration in the rate of expansion of the UK manufacturing sector. Growth of output and new orders were both among the best seen over the past seven years, leading to a solid increase in employment. The sector remained beset by supply-chain delays and input shortages, however, which contributed to increased purchasing costs and record selling price inflation. The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) rose to 60.9 in April, up from 58.9 in March and above the earlier flash estimate of 60.7. The latest reading is the highest since July 1994's record high (61.0). ... (full story)