Markit manufacturing PMI data for February
- Prior reading was 53.9
- Output 56.0 vs 55.7 prior -- highest since August
- Employment 51.7 vs 53.4 prior -- lowest since July
- New orders at lowest since January 2014
"Factory output growth ticked higher for a second successive month in February, suggesting the goods-producing sector is on course to make a robust contribution to the economy in the first quarter," said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, in a statement.
"However, the rate of growth remains well down on last year's peaks, and a slowing of new orders growth to the weakest for just over a year looks to have caused employers to take a more cautious approach to hiring. Worries over Russia and the eurozone also continue to dampen risk appetite."
