EEF NW comment on output/trade data

Darrell Matthews

Commenting on today's PMI data, Darrell Matthews, North West Region Director at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “Manufacturers had a strong finish to 2013, but more encouraging, are the indicators we’ve seen since the start of the year which suggest that positive trend has rolled into the early part of 2014.

"Our expectation is that we see another quarter of 0.6% expansion in the three months to March, with a pretty even picture across sectors.

“The business surveys have been pointing to a decent picked up in the home market, but the trade data today shows the export story has yet to follow.

"However, with more confidence that export demand will gather pace through the course of this year, we should expect the official data to follow suit.”