UK private sector firms experienced another month of rapid input cost inflation, according to the latest November PMI data compiled by IHS Markit and CIPS. The latest increase in average cost burdens was the fastest since this index began in January 1998, driven by higher wages and a spike in prices paid for fuel, energy and raw materials.

Customer demand continued to rise sharply in November, despite the pass through of higher costs to clients, with the overall rate of new order growth accelerating to a five-month high. Service providers reported a faster recovery in new work than goods producers.

Subdued momentum in the manufacturing sector again reflected constraints on growth due to the global supply chain crisis. The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit / CIPS Flash UK Composite Output Index registered 57.7 in November, down fractionally from 57.8 in October but comfortably above the average seen in the third quarter of 2021 (56.3).

Service sector growth outpaced the manufacturing recovery in November, although the latter saw its strongest expansion for three months. Survey respondents typically commented on rising client demand due to improving economic conditions and a continued boost from the roll-back of pandemic restrictions.

New order intakes increased at the strongest pace since June, fuelled by robust rises in business and consumer spending. Exports expanded only marginally, however, as a resurgence in the service economy was offset by falling sales in the manufacturing sector.

Drop in export orders
The latest rise in new business from abroad in the service sector was the strongest since June 2018, while goods producers reported a drop in export orders for the third month running in November.

Strong customer demand and increased backlogs of work contributed to another marked rise in private sector employment during November. Staffing numbers have now picked up in each of the past nine months, although the latest increase was the slowest since April.

Survey respondents widely noted that recruitment difficulties and unexpected staff departures for higher wages or lifestyle changes had constrained employment growth.

Around 63% of UK private sector companies reported an increase in their average cost burdens during November, while only 1% signalled a decline. The resulting index pointed to the steepest rate of input price inflation since the PMI began in January 1998. Record rises in operating expenses were seen in both the manufacturing and service sector during November.

Exceptionally strong cost pressures meant that prices charged by manufacturers increased at the steepest rate since the index began 20 years ago. However, service providers indicated a slight slowdown in output charge inflation to its lowest for three months, with some citing greater resistance to higher selling prices among clients.

Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said: “A combination of sustained buoyant business growth, further job market gains and record inflationary pressures gives a green light for interest rates to rise in December.

“Output growth across manufacturing and services came in slightly faster than expected in November, albeit heavily skewed towards the service sector as factories continued to struggle with supply shortages and falling exports.

“Encouragingly, an acceleration in growth of new business hints that December should bring a strong end to the year, meaning the fourth quarter should see a welcome pick up in GDP growth after the slowdown seen in the third quarter.

“For policymakers concerned about the health of the labour market after the end of the furlough scheme, the buoyant jobs growth signalled should bring some reassuring comfort.

“A record increase in firms’ costs will meanwhile further stoke fears that inflation will soon breach 5%, with lingering near-record supply delays adding to indications that price pressures may show few signs of abating in the near-term.

“The relatively poor performance of manufacturing is likely to remain a concern for some time, however, as is the potential to see tighter growth-inhibiting Covid-19 restrictions applied
amid high Covid-19 case numbers both at home and now also in continental Europe. The latest survey results will none the less likely shorten the odds of an interest rate hike at the Bank of England’s December meeting.”

Supply chain snags
Duncan Brock, Group Director at CIPS, said: "Growth in private sector business continued in November, with a reversal of fortunes between the sectors still evident as services stormed ahead fuelled by consumer spending on hospitality but manufacturing progress was held back by supply chain snags.

"Another survey record of rising costs for fuel and wage demands led to the highest inflationary pressures since January 1998 as 63% of supply chain managers paid more for their materials. Shortages of staff and production stoppages due to a lack of supplies added to frustrations in the manufacturing sector as some machines fell silent.

“Service firms saw new orders escalate to the highest extent since June and overseas orders rose at the strongest pace since 2018 as the opportunities for international travel accelerated.”

He concluded: “The million-dollar question will be whether the effects of re-imposed restrictions in some European countries will act as a significant obstacle to this progress and whether supply chain tangles unravel a bit more to ease Christmas shortages from factories, making the last quarter of the year a pleasing end to 2021 for everyone.”