U.K. Sept. manufacturing PMI falls to 48.4

FRANKFURT (MarketWatch)
Britain's manufacturing downturn deepened in September, with the Markit/CIPS purchasing-managers' index for the sector falling to 48.4 from 49.6 in August, data showed Monday Economists had forecast a reading of 48.5
A figure below 50 indicates a contraction in activity
"The survey data are consistent with manufacturing output falling sharply, at a quarterly rate in excess of 1% in September
At that pace, the sector could dampen economic growth severely and keep the economy in recession," said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit