British manufacturing index hits 2 ½-year high

London

BRITISH manufacturing grew at its fastest pace in two and a half years last month, adding to signs that the economy ended 2016 strongly despite the shock of June's Brexit vote, a survey showed on Tuesday.

The Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 56.1, the strongest reading since June 2014, from 53.6 in November, helped by orders from home and abroad.