Markit Economics released its manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the U.K. on Thursday. The Markit/Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply manufacturing PMI for the U.K. decreased to 51.5 in September from 51.6 in August, beating expectations for a fall to 51.3. August's figure was revised up from 51.5.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

The decline was driven by a drop in input prices.

Employment also declined in September.

"The UK manufacturing sector remained sluggish at the end of the third quarter, stunned by a triple combination of a sharp slowdown in consumer spending, weak business investment and stagnating export order inflows. The survey is still broadly consistent with stagnation, or even a mild downturn, when compared to official data," Markit's Senior Economist Rob Dobson said.