EEF comments on PMI data

Darrell Matthews, EEF North West Region Director

Commenting on the PMI data, Darrell Matthews, North West Region Director at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, says: “Coming on the back of official data confirming a very healthy rate of manufacturing growth last year, the PMI suggests that, if anything, the sector has stepped up a gear at the start of this year.

"While the story of healthy domestic demand has become familiar over the past year or so, evidence is also mounting that the sector’s export prospects are finally turning a corner with demand improving across a range of markets.

“Undoubtedly the pick-up in new business will have been aided by strengthening activity in much of the Eurozone.

"With the employment outlook remaining positive and other data confirming a solid performance for productivity and investment growth in 2014, manufacturing continues to look well placed to support economic growth in the year ahead.”