British manufacturing activity growth weakened more than expected in March after the inflow of orders slowed sharply, but firms still ramped up prices at a record rate to cover rising costs, according to data last Friday. The Markit/CIPS manufacturing PMI headline index fell to a five-month low of 57.1 in March from a downwardly revised 60.9 in February. Analysts had expected a more modest easing to 60.6. The output prices index, however, rose to 65.2 in March from 63.6 in February, the highest since the series began in 1999. The figures highlight the dilemma facing Bank of England policymakers over how to tackle persistently above-target inflation without harming a fragile economic recovery. The slowdown in manufacturing, which has so far been the one bright spot in the UK economy, is likely to reinforce expectations the central bank will hold off raising interest rates until the recovery is on a firmer footing. Money markets have pushed back expectations for the first rise in interest rates from 0.5 percent to August from May, largely as a result of weak news on consumer activity.