A global indicator based on national surveys of manufacturers fell for the second month running in December, showing the sector growing at a slightly slower pace, a report showed yesterday.

The global purchasing managers' index (PMI) eased to 54.0 in December from November's 54.6, remaining well above the 50 line between growth and contraction.

However, JP Morgan, which produces the index with research and supply management organisations, said the two successive monthly falls suggested "the current uptick in global manufacturing growth is losing momentum".

The index, which combines survey data from countries including the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia, was weighed down by a weaker than expected US manufacturing survey from the Institute for Supply Management.

The euro zone's manufacturing workforce grew in December for the first time in more than four years as companies took on more staff to meet rising demand for their products, according to a major survey.

The RBS/NTC Eurozone Purchasing Managers' Index showed the sector expanding overall at its fastest pace since August 2004, production and new orders both hit 17-month highs, and companies created more jobs than they shed for the first month since May 2001.

The overall euro zone PMI rose further above the 50 divide between growth and contraction to 53.6 from 52.8 in November, above the consensus forecast of 53.3, while the Italian national PMI hit a five-year high.

But in the UK, manufacturing growth remained relatively weak, with the main index inching up to 51.1 from 51.0 in November, while employment levels continued to fall.