UK manufacturers' optimism soars at domestic orders hike

The latest Confederation of British Industry (CBI) industrial trends survey showed that 37% of businesses saw an increase in home-grown orders in the three months to January, compared to 21% who reported a slump, giving a balance of 16%.

This is the highest level for domestic orders since July 2014 when the balance was 23%.

The poll, which surveyed 461 businesses, found that the total order books increased from a balance of 0% in December to 5% in January, the highest measure since April 2015.

The pick up in business boosted industry confidence, with 27% of firms more optimistic about the general business situation than three months ago and 12% less optimistic, given a balance of 15%.

It brings manufacturing sentiment to its highest level since January 2015 when it was also 15%.

CBI chief economist Rain Newton-Smith said UK manufacturers have been “firing on all cylinders” but warned that sterling’s collapse was starting to hurt the industry.

Unit costs rose at the fastest rate in over five years, and companies now expected further price pain over the next quarter.

“The weaker pound is driving export optimism for the year ahead, but is having a detrimental impact on costs for firms and ultimately for consumers,” Ms Newton-Smith said.

But the drop in sterling helped raise competitiveness in non-EU markets, which rose at a rate not seen in the survey’s history, to a balance of 26%.

Competitiveness in EU markets reached a balance of 28%.

But that did not translate into a stellar rise in manufacturing exports, which increased “moderately” to a balance of 5% and below expectations for a balance of 17%.

It has not dampened confidence, as optimism about export prospects in the year ahead rose strongly to a level of 19%.

The number of people employed in manufacturing rose in the three months to January, to a positive balance of 4% from minus 5% in the three months to October.