1020 GMT - The U.K. manufacturing sector continued to record modest growth in September, although rising energy costs due to the Middle East conflict threaten to weaken the outlook, Matt Swannell at the ITEM Club says in a note. The S&P Global manufacturing PMI edged up to 51.9 in September from 51.7 in August, with new orders remaining relatively healthy. But challenges are likely to gather pace, with the sector expected to lose momentum ahead, Swannell says. "Demand for consumer goods will cool as the resilience we've seen in the retail sector fades and consumers' spending is squeezed by rising inflation." Elevated energy prices are likely to persist through the first half of next year, pushing up manufacturing costs and goods inflation, Swannell adds.