The recovery of the UK manufacturing sector remained on track today after figures showed expansion at another 15-year high last month.
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) said production increased for the ninth consecutive month in February, with the rate of growth accelerating to match the previous month's record.
Its monthly headline activity index, where a reading over 50 registers growth, showed a reading of 56.6 - unchanged on January and the highest since October 1994.
CIPS said total new business rose at a rate close to January's six-year high as firms benefited from successful product launches and clients rebuilding their inventories.
Growth of new export orders accelerated to its fastest since at least January 1996, with gains linked to higher sales in the US and Asia and supported by the current weakness of sterling.
The CIPS said that companies reported that higher demand from export markets was not just on the back of the softer sterling but also improving global market conditions.
However, it warned the recovery was threatened by inflationary pressures, such as higher energy prices, and expected fiscal tightening measures.
Today's figure was better than the 55.5 expected by City economists.
