Offsetting the decline seen in May, the first in 32 months, new export orders increased in June. However, the rate of expansion was only slight and below the long-run series average. Two of the three monitored market groups recorded higher levels of new business from abroad, the exception being intermediate goods.

Boosted by sustained growth of order books, buying levels rose in June. Despite being slight, the rate of expansion was the quickest in the current six-month sequence of increases. Purchasing activity grew in each of the three sub-sectors, led by consumer goods.

Data implied that the upturn in buying levels placed pressure on the capacity of vendors, as average delivery times lengthened to the greatest extent since April.

June saw input costs increase for the ninth month running, with survey participants reporting higher prices paid for metals, chemicals, plastics, textiles, petrol, food and paper. That said, the rate of inflation eased to the slowest since March, and was moderate overall.

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