LONDON, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Britain's June manufacturing output expanded at the fastest pace since September 2024 amid clients' strategic stockpiling, data from the S&P Global showed on Wednesday.
The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) stood at 52.5 in June, down from May's four-year high of 53.9 and the earlier flash estimate of 53.1, according to the S&P Global.
Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said although the UK manufacturing sector ended the second quarter of the year on a positive note of output expansion, sustaining the upturn is becoming a bigger concern.
"Manufacturers are currently benefiting from clients' strategic stockpiling, as they safeguard against supply chain disruptions and expected price rises. A drop in the rate of growth of new work intakes suggests this boost is already starting to fade," he commented.
He also noted that manufacturing companies' optimism about the year ahead remains tepid, with many concerned about geopolitical tensions and uncertain over the future course of government policy.
On the price front, average input prices rose markedly in June. Supply chain disruptions, material shortages and geopolitical tensions all exerted upward pressure on purchasing costs, the data also showed.
Subsequently, average output charges were raised for the seventh month running, with the rate of increase remaining relatively close to May's near four-year high. ■