Businesses 'anticipating export increase'

A quarter of companies questioned (25%) expect output to rise in the next three months, with the resulting balance of +7% the strongest figure since March 2008.

The Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) monthly Industrial Trends Survey also stated that 14% of firms had recorded above-average exports, while 38% said they were below the norm - the resulting balance of -23% the best since August 2008.

Ian McCafferty, CBI chief economic adviser, noted that manufacturing production is slowing recovery in the UK and he expects destocking to cease.

However, he stated that growth was still expected to remain weak as total orders remained relatively frail.

Although for the second consecutive month prices are expected to rise, according to the report.

It recently suggested that the economy was not out of the woods, as domestic trading remained low - with greater avenues to funding needed to help small and medium-sized enterprises.

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