mpc.theyserveforyou.com

mpc: 24 Judging by the CIPS surveys of business activity, the economy appeared to be operating with high capacity utilisation as well as a low unemployment rate. Input price inflation ­ even excluding oil ­ was high, at around 6% at a three-month annualised rate in February. However, manufacturers' output price inflation (excluding petroleum products) had been lower. The CIPS price surveys suggested that input price pressures might ease a little in the near future in manufacturing and construction. The short-term outlook was for slightly higher CPI inflation than expected last month, primarily because of higher oil and utility prices.