Small firms see production rise

Small manufacturers saw production pick up in the three months to January as domestic demand for UK-made goods improved, according to a CBI survey published today.

But firms are facing strong cost pressures, now feeding through to higher domestic and exported goods prices.

The CBI's latest "SME trends survey" shows that 30 per cent of 366 manufacturers surveyed saw higher output during the period, while 17 per cent reported a fall. The resulting balance of +13 per cent was stronger than the +9 per cent in the previous quarter.