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Manufacturing at two-year high

Jan 04 2010

Growth in the manufacturing sector reached a twenty-five month high in December, according to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply’s (CIPS) Index.

David Noble, chief executive officer at CIPS, says: ‘Despite operating against one of the toughest economic backdrops ever witnessed, 2009 saw the UK manufacturing sector slowly regain its footing and end the year in comparatively strong shape on the back of significant increases in production and new orders.’

The body says orders have risen as manufacturering clients star to rebuild stocks.

According to the index, employment fell for the twentieth consecutive month in December. But despite this smaller firms reported a slight increase in staffing levels.

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