The rate of growth in the British manufacturing slowed in July, according to data released on Wednesday.

The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) showed a continuation of growth and at levels well above the long-term average, but the rate of growth has slowed since the second half of last year.

The PMI showed overall manufacturing activity slowing to a three-month low in July as output growth slowed to a 16-month low.

The PMI dipped to a three-month low of 54.0 in July after rising to 54.3 in June from 54.2 in May and a 17-month low of 53.8 in April (above 50 indicates growth).

The robust rate of growth seen up to November last year, when the index reached a high of 58.2, its highest point for nearly five years, has now been left behind.

A slowdown in new orders growth to a 13-month low in July and manufacturers' optimism dropping to a 21-month low are pointing to continued weakening of growth in the coming months.

Howard Archer, chief economic adviser to the EY ITEM Club, a financial analysis firm, told Xinhua: "The survey points to the manufacturing sector faltering in July after a weakened performance over the first half of 2018 compared to the robust growth seen in the second half of 2017."

However, export orders picked up to a six-month high in July, but sterling's post-Brexit referendum devaluing in June 2016, when it lost more than 20 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar, is no longer stimulating export growth.

Archer said: "Disappointingly for future output prospects, new orders growth slowed to a 13-month low in July. This was due to a softening in domestic demand as export orders picked up to a six-month high while remaining below the peak levels seen in the latter months of 2017."

"Manufacturers' optimism weakened to a 21-month low, reportedly weighed down by concerns over Brexit and the exchange rate," the adviser added.