UK Factory Orders Surge to Highest Since July 2023, CBI Survey Shows

A gauge of British factory orders rose in September to its highest level since July 2023, the Confederation of British Industry said on Tuesday, adding to signs of resilience in the UK economy. The CBI's monthly order books balance climbed to -9 in September from -25 in August, a jump of 36 points over two months — the largest such rise in the survey's 49-year history. The gauge of output expectations for the months ahead improved to its highest since March, while expected prices cooled to +12 from +22 in August. "There are growing signs that conditions are stabilising for manufacturers," said Cameron Martin, CBI senior economist. The data points to solid increases in manufacturing output.