The end of the second quarter saw manufacturers report further expansions of both production and new order volumes. However, rates of increase decelerated, as growth of new business slowed in both the domestic and export markets. Price pressures continued to ease, with rates of inflation in input costs and output charges down further from highs reached at the start of the year.

At 54.3 in June, down from 56.3 in May, the seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) posted its lowest reading in three months. However, the average PMI level over the second quarter as a whole (55.9) was the best registered for three years.