The U.K. manufacturing sector showed signs of stabilization at the end of 2011, Markit Economics showed Tuesday. The Markit/CIPS manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 49.6 in December from a revised reading of 47.7 in November. The reading reached close to the neutral 50 level. Economists were expecting the index to fall to 47.3. Production was broadly unchanged in December, following back-to-back contractions, and the rate of decline in new orders slowed as the trend in new exports strengthened. Average input costs fell for the second successive month. Factory gate prices rose only moderately and to the least marked extent during the current 26-month period of inflation.