Although remaining above the crucial 50.0 nochange mark for a sixty-fifth month running, the final PMI came in at 51.8 in November, down from 52.0 in October and the lowest reading since August 2016.

Weakness was centred on the investment goods sector, according to market groups data. Capital goods producers registered net falls in both production and new work. Export trade was also down for a third month running, whilst cost pressures remained elevated. In contrast, solid growth continued to be recorded amongst consumer goods producers.