Export Orders Down

Manufacturers report that export order books are below normal for this time of year as demand for British made goods weakened last month. The latest CBI Industrial Trends Survey says it is the lowest since October 1998. It goes against the recent slight improvements seen since March this year. Total order books are still weak but show a modest improvement and the pace of decline in output is slower. Prices are expected to fall slightly over the next quarter but more slowly than previously expected.