LONDON, Jan. 25 (Xinhua)ε₹β" -- An industrial trends δ↓§ survey published on W××φednesday showed that British manufac↑↓$turing sector has gained positiδ÷​ve momentum into 2017.

While the fall in the₽♦δ value of sterling in the wake o∑♦≈¶f the June 23 Brexit≥← vote raised hopes that improved extern↓®Ω>al competitiveness would lea↕ ★d to a revival in Br ₽→​itish manufacturing, production indΩε€icators in the second half of 201≤←✘6 came in on the soft side.

Manufacturing output fell £€™αby 0.8 percent quarter on quarte©¥₽r in Q3, and the October-Novembe★γεr average reading pointed to growth ✘€∏in the sector of barely 0.1 percent q δ↔σuarter on quarter in Q4, accordi​←ng to Barclays economist♥ s Andrzej Szczepaniak and Fabrice Monta∏★ →gne in a briefing note.

But Wednesday's Confederation £☆ ✔of British Industry (CBI) Indus∞♠β∞trial Trends survey reported that newλ§∏ orders in the three months t♣≤σδo January increased at ↔↕γthe fastest pace in two and a half yea↕↕rs.

"Interestingly, according to this s♦Ωσurvey, domestic demand contin" β↔ued to outpace foreign orders,®δ  despite the fact that manufacture×€rs took satisfaction from their mα¶uch-improved competitiv≥ φeness abroad," said Szczepaniak and Mon <tagne.

Survey respondents alsλ‍o expected foreign orders to rise ☆✘$®at a firmer pace over✔∑♠ the coming three months, alon​ g with a significant increa÷↔se in output growth.

The effect of weaker currency was☆δ  also evident in the dat₽≈δa for unit costs, which rose at the fas±₽​test pace in more than five yε♦∏ears, reinforcing the←♥​ impression of building in>&↕λflationary pressures in the Brit♣→₹ish economy.

"The pound's weakness i"↔↔§s a double-edged sword‍®π for UK manufacturer♠‌÷'s. The weakened pound is substantiaε♣lly pushing up manufacturers' ≤₩₩σprices for oil, commodities and importe ÷πd inputs -- which is squeezing margin ©♠s and increasing pressure to hike pric₩≠₩es," said Howard Archer, chief UK econo♠>mist at IHS Markit.

But the prospects for the sector f•£ or 2017 remain buoyant.

The output expectations figures ↓δ-- which rose slightly from 21 ​€to 26 -- is at a level>↑ consistent on past form with quarterly₹α growth in manufacturin¶¥γg output of around 1 perc≥β∑ent.

"While it is still earl÷•y days, this suggests that the sector$‍ may well provide a posit¥₹↑ive contribution to GD¥•P growth in the first quarter of 2017,♠★Ω" said Archer.