Small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies (SMEs) see no end to the difficult trading conditions of the past six years.
In contrast to signs of improvement among larger manufacturers and in the wider economy, today's Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) quarterly survey of small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies shows the majority have faced falling order books for two-and-a-half years.
Declining orders were reported by 39 per cent of the 877 companies surveyed, compared with only 22 per cent of companies reporting rising orders in the survey conducted between 19 June and 9 July.
Simon Bartley, who chairs the CBI's SME council, said: "It has been a disappointing year for UK manufacturers so far. Recovery in our major overseas markets has proceeded tentatively and increased spending by consumers and government does not appear to be benefiting this sector very much."
