The start of 2016 saw a modest improvement in the rate of growth in the UK manufacturing sector. This was highlighted by the seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS Purchasing Manager’s Index® (PMI® ) rising to a three-month high of 52.9, up slightly from 52.1 in December. The PMI has remained above the neutral 50.0 mark for 34 successive months. Manufacturing production increased again during January, reflecting improved inflows of new work from the domestic market