U.K. Manufacturing Unexpectedly Cools as Pound Saps Exports

Growth at U.K. factories unexpectedly cooled last month as the stronger pound hit demand for British goods abroad, adding to signs economic growth is losing momentum less than a week before the general election.

A Purchasing Managers’ Index for the manufacturing industry fell to a seven-month low of 51.9 from 54 in March, Markit Economics Ltd. said on Friday in London. Economists had forecast an increase to 54.6 from a previous reading of 54.4. New export orders shrank for the fifth time in seven months.

The pound has risen about 6 percent this year against the euro, the currency of Britain’s biggest trading partner, as the European Central Bank buys government bonds to stoke inflation. Data on Tuesday showed growth slowed in the first quarter, setting the scene for an election where no major party is set to win an outright majority.

Markit’s headline gauge has now held above 50, the dividing line between expansion and contraction, for just over two years. Its data showed employment at manufacturers increased for a second full year.

Weaker Pound

The factory PMI is one of the last economic reports before the election. The economy expanded just 0.3 percent in the first quarter, the weakest reading since 2012, as industrial production and construction both contracted.

Sterling weakened after the report, and stayed lower after a separate Bank of England report showed mortgage approvals fell in March. Business lending, including for small- and medium-sized enterprises, also declined.

The pound was down 0.4 percent on the day and traded at $1.5298 as of 10:52 a.m. London time. It was at 73.50 pence per euro versus 73.12 pence on Thursday.

“A slowing global economy and strong sterling-euro exchange rate are hurting the competitiveness of exporters,” said Rob Dobson, a senior economist at Markit in London. “A key challenge for the next government is to revive manufacturing and help it at least regain its pre-crisis peak.”

Though its index of new orders fell to 52.9, the lowest since September, the expansion was driven by domestic activity. A drop in output prices reflected weaker demand.

Bloomberg

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