Expansion in manufacturing sector strengthens the case for interest rate rise

New orders flowed in at the fastest rate since November and manufacturers took on staff at the quickest pace since March 2011, although output growth slowed slightly and input costs rose for the first time since January.

Analysts said the strength of the data reinforced the case for an interest rate hike this year, as did a separate report showing lower productivity in the first quarter of 2014.

“An impressive and encouraging survey across the board,” Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS Global Insight said about the manufacturing survey.

The Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 57.5 in June from 57.0 in May – its highest since November and beating expectations for a small fall. It also topped readings in other European countries.

Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit, expected manufacturing output in the second quarter to have expanded by more than the 1.5 per cent seen in the first quarter.

“With (BoE) Governor Mark Carney stressing that the strength of data will drive when the Bank of England will first edge up interest rates, the robust June manufacturing PMI will likely be seen as supportive to a move in late 2014 rather than early 2015,” Archer added.

Government bonds fell and sterling hit its highest in nearly six years after higher-than-forecast manufacturing data added to the case for a rate rise this year.

BoE officials have recently given mixed signals on the timing of a potential interest rate rise.

While they say markets have underestimated the likelihood of a move in 2014, they also think more slack needs to be used up before that happens.