Manufacturing a good set of results

BRITAIN'S manufacturing sector continued to show improvement yesterday after a balance of 18 per cent of firms told the CBI that orders were "below normal" in the last month, better than the 36 per cent reported in April.

Inflationary pressures remain significant and domestic prices are expected to rise over the next three months, with a balance of 14 per cent forecasting higher prices.

Ian McCafferty, CBI chief economic adviser, said: "The weak pound has made exports more attractive and manufacturers are benefiting."