The latest report by IHS Markit revealed on Thursday the seasonally adjusted final IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stood at 54.1, down slightly from the “flash” figure of 54.3 and down from August's two-and-a-half year high of 55.2. The latest reading pointed to a fourth straight month of growth, its longest sequence in expansion territory since early-2019.

Economists had forecast the index to stay unrevised at 54.3.

According to the report, output and new orders rose as new work intakes improved from both domestic and overseas market. Meanwhile, job losses were recorded for the eighth consecutive month in September, although the pace of reduction weakened to its lowest since February.