A Thursday CBI survey showed the UK industrial orders balance for August climbed
to -25 from -45 in July, the highest reading since November 2024. The 20-point
improvement — the largest gain in over five years and among the biggest on
record since the 1970s — was driven by a marked improvement in export orders.
CBI senior economist Cameron Martin said strong global demand has provided
relief for manufacturers but warned it is too early to call a sustained market
shift, noting persistent cost pressures and a renewed rise in firms'
selling-price expectations that remain well above historical averages.
