SBN Survey shows decline in export demand Confidence has fallen among small and medium-size manufacturing firms following a surprise drop in export demand, according to a survey published by the Confederation of British Industry and business advisors Pannell Kerr Forster. Twenty six per cent of firms were less optimistic than four months ago, while 22 per cent were more optimistic. The balance of minus four compares with plus 10 last January and plus nine last October. The decline follows a fall in export orders, disappointing companies that four months ago had expected a rise.
Companies now expect the decline to continue over the next four months.
Thirty three per cent of firms said export orders fell over the past four months while 23 per cent said they rose. The balance of minus 10 compares with minus eight last January and minus 18 last October. But the total number of orders was broadly stable as domestic orders helped prop up demand. Companies said they expect total orders to remain broadly stable over the next four months. Output was also broadly stable over the past four months, despite previous expectations of a rise, but firms still anticipate a rise over the next four months, with medium-size companies expecting a bigger increase than small ones.