The UK manufacturing sector continued to grow in February despite a sharp rise in oil prices, official figures have shown.
The Markit/CIPS Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) reached 51.2 last month, with any reading above 50 representing growth in the manufacturing sector.
Growth was held back by the rising cost of oil, with the price of Brent crude up ten per cent last month to $125 (£78) a barrel.
Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit, said: "UK manufacturers continued to raise production and employment in February, building on the solid foundation seen so far at the start of 2012.
"This raises hopes that the sector will post an expansion over the first quarter as a whole, or at least improve on the disappointing 0.9 per cent contraction seen at the end of last year."
UK manufacturers struggling to deal with increasing orders could go to recruitment specialists Jark, which offers tailored services to those in the manufacturing sector.
