British manufacturers last month slid deeper into decline, meaning the sector has been in contraction for eight months in a row, a survey showed on Monday.
The S&P Global/CIPS UK manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 47.9 last month from 49.3 in February, slightly below initial estimates. Readings below 50 indicate a contraction in activity.
“The downturn in output was driven by declines in both the consumer and intermediate goods sectors,” S&P Global said. “In contrast, investment goods production rose for the second month in a row.”
The survey put costs paid by manufacturers at their lowest level since June 2020, although analysts said this could be short-lived given the rise in the price of oil brought on by a production cut by Opec+ members at the weekend.
The survey also showed the biggest improvement for three decades in average supplier delivery times. This was in sharp contrast to the supply chain problems of two years ago, when manufacturers reported record delays during the Covid-19 pandemic.
WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand
(Saturday, 12pm UAE)
Wales v South Africa
(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)
THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Copa del Rey final
Sevilla v Barcelona, Saturday, 11.30pm (UAE), match on Bein Sports
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
