UK manufacturing output rises, decline expected in next quarter: CBI

Selling price inflation is expected to remain historically high in the next three months.

The survey, based on the responses of 230 manufacturing firms, expects manufacturing output to fall in the three months to February next year.

Output increased in 9 out of 17 sectors in the three months to November. The increase in output reported this quarter was largely driven by the food, drink and tobacco, motor vehicles and transport equipment, and chemicals sectors.??

Total order books were reported as below ‘normal’ in November, and to a similar extent to October. Export orders were also seen as below normal, but to a lesser extent than last month. Nonetheless, both total and export order books remained above their long-run averages, CBI said in a release.

Expectations for average selling price inflation for the next three months remained at a broadly similar level to last month, although this remains comfortably below the multi-decade highs seen earlier in the year.

Stocks of finished goods were seen as broadly adequate in November, to a similar degree as in October.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)