U.K. Manufacturing Cools as Export Demand Weakens: Economy

U.K. manufacturing growth unexpectedly cooled in December as export demand weakened, highlighting headwinds to the recovery.

A gauge of factory activity fell to 57.3 from a revised 58.1 in November, Markit Economics said in a report in London today. The index has been above the 50 level that divides expansion from contraction for nine straight months. A separate report showed manufacturing in China weakened last month, while economists forecast that it cooled in the U.S.