{"id":42694,"date":"2018-06-20T11:33:32","date_gmt":"2018-06-20T10:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=42694"},"modified":"2018-09-04T16:03:56","modified_gmt":"2018-09-04T15:03:56","slug":"strong-turnaround-for-uk-manufacturers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/strong-turnaround-for-uk-manufacturers\/42694\/","title":{"rendered":"Strong turnaround for UK manufacturers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The latest CBI<\/a> Industrial Trends Survey has revealed that in the three months to June manufacturing order books recovered and the volume of output increased strongly<\/h2>\n

According to the Industrial Trends Survey of 388 manufacturers, output grew at the fastest pace since December 2017 in the three months to June, broadly in line with expectations. Growth was broad-based, with output growing in 14 out of 17 sub-sectors, with growth mostly driven by \u2018Food, Drink and Tobacco\u2019 and \u2018Mechanical Engineering<\/a>\u2019. Respondents anticipate that output growth will slow slightly over the next three months.<\/p>\n

Total order books returned to the healthier levels recorded at the end of 2017, while export orders remained stable and well above average, in line with the past 16 months.<\/p>\n

Outlooks for output price inflation softened to the weakest in almost a year, while stocks levels moved back below the long-run average.<\/p>\n

While we expect manufacturers to continue to benefit from robust external demand and the lower exchange rate, overall economic growth is expected to remain subdued due to weak consumer income growth and investment being held back by ongoing uncertainty<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Anna Leach, CBI Head of Economic Intelligence, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe recovery in orders and a return to bumper growth in production suggests the lull in manufacturing activity may be over. While risks to demand persist from Brexit and escalating global trade tensions, firms can work with the Government to nurture a pro-enterprise environment that helps UK growth to shift up a gear. There is much within the UK\u2019s control that can be acted on now to lift UK productivity<\/a>, from building a third runway at Heathrow to investing in the skills of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom Crotty, Group Director of Ineos and Chair of CBI Manufacturing Council, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cImprovements in order books and strong output growth are good news for UK manufacturers, particularly after the slowdown that we had seen since the beginning of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut uncertainty remains elevated, from both Brexit and anti-global trade rhetoric. It is becoming increasingly important for the Government to provide more clarity to UK businesses so that they can better compete at home and globally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Key Industrial Trends Survey findings:<\/h3>\n