Looking ahead, companies were generally optimistic that output would rise over the next year. Moreover, the degree of confidence strengthened to a four-month high. The seasonally adjusted Purchasing Managers' Index - a composite indicator designed to provide a single-figure snapshot of operating conditions in the manufacturing economy - was unchanged from December's reading of 51.5 in January, to signal a further modest improvement in overall operating conditions. The health of the sector has now strengthened in each of the past eight months, while the pace of improvement was slightly stronger than the long-run trend.