UK’s manufacturing sector grew at its weakest pace for seven months in April 2011, a survey suggests.

The Markit/CIPS UK manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 54.6 last month from a downwardly-revised 56.7 in March. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

Manufacturing has been one of the healthiest sectors in the economy since the UK emerged from recession at the end of 2009, with the PMI now showing growth for 21 months in a row.

Although output prices fell in April, they remained close to March’s peak, indicating that inflation is still high.

“There was a dip in the output prices component, but it is still the third-highest index reading since the series began in 1999,” said James Knightley from ING Financial Markets.

“Consequently, the issue of weak growth and high inflation will continue to trouble the Bank of England (BoE). Given they have a mandate of targeting 2% inflation in two years’ time, the worrying outlook for growth favours patience from BoE policymakers.”