A deterioration in activity across the manufacturing sector has intensified as fresh data has revealed export work grinding to a standstill and investment stagnating.

S&P Global's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for manufacturing in September demonstrated the sector was still battling to recover despite some subdued optimism in recent months.

Activity in the sector plummeted to a five-month low owing to a decline in orders at one of the "greatest extents in the past two years", with the PMI reading tumbling to 46.2 – considerably below the 50-figure benchmark for neutrality in output.

Disruption triggered by a cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover had knock-on effects across the broader manufacturing sector, according to researchers.

Tariffs and elevated energy costs also dampened client

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