UK manufacturing growth picks up in July

Manufacturing represents about 10% of the UK's economy

UK manufacturing growth picked up in July, a survey has suggested, after a 26-month low in June.

But growth remained "near-stagnant", Markit said in its monthly UK Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for manufacturing.

The index rose to 51.9 in July, from 51.4 in June. A figure above 50 indicates expansion.

However, it remained below the average of 54.3 the sector has had since April 2013.

"Although an uptick in the headline PMI breaks the decelerating trend in UK manufacturing, growth remains near-stagnant and suggests that the sector is continuing to act as a drag on the economy," said Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit.

The pace of growth of new orders slowed to 52.2, its lowest since September 2014.

Production expansion remained dependent on consumer goods manufacturing, which offset a contraction in investment goods such as plant and machinery, Markit said.

In addition, demand for exports was being sapped by the sterling-euro exchange rate.

New export orders contracted for the fourth consecutive month in July.

"Scratching beneath the surface of the headline manufacturing numbers shows that the sector is still reliant on the domestic market to drive overall demand, and on the consumer sector in particular," Mr Dobson said.

Official data released in July showed manufacturing contracted in May.