The struggling UK manufacturing sector fell back further into negative territory in July, a key survey of the sector showed today. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply's purchasing managers index of activity in the UK manufacturing sector fell to 49.2 in July from 49.6 in June, sources said. The latest reading is well under the expected improvement to 50.0. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity, while a sub-50 figure indicates contraction. The headline index has stayed under the 50 point cut off since April. The sub-index measuring new orders fell to 49.4 from 50.7 the previous month while export orders edged up to 51.1 from 51.0.