Mumbai, March 2 -- UK manufacturing continued to improve in February, with steady growth in output and new orders. The S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI registered 51.7, slightly below January's 17-month high of 51.8 but still above the 50 mark that signals expansion. This is the fourth month in a row that the sector has grown.
Production increased for the fifth consecutive month, supported by stronger demand at home and abroad. Export orders rose at the fastest pace in four-and-a-half years, with companies reporting better demand from China, the EU, the Middle East and North America. Consumer goods producers performed best, while investment goods firms saw a slight drop in total new orders.
Larger and medium-sized companies reported rising...