Manufacturing boost grows economy
THERE has been a slight increase in Scottish private-sector output, according to figures from the Bank of Scotland.
The bank’s purchasing managers’ index data for June showed growth in the service sector remained unchanged since May, while manufacturing expanded at a slower rate.
Input and output price inflation eased slightly though input inflation remained high.
Seasonally-adjusted figures showed a singlefigure measure of the month-on-month change in combined manufacturing and services output, which fell to 51.1 in June from 51.5 in May.
This signalled modest output growth that was below the survey’s historical average.
The index showed manufacturers increased their output at a steady pace.
Although the rate of expansion eased since May, production growth remained higher than business activity in the service sector.
The figures also showed there was a return to employment growth in June.
Scottish employment growth, however, remained weaker than the whole of the UK.
Business confidence fell in June, although to a lesser extent than seen across the UK as a whole.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “This is a further vote of confidence in the Scottish economy.”