CBI: Smaller UK firms expecting output to drop - Reuters

According to reporting by Reuters, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is warning that surveys of small- to medium-sized UK firms are bracing for a continued decline in output in the run-up to Brexit.

Key quotes

"Smaller British manufacturers expect their output to dip for the first time in seven years during the next three months, hurt by sagging order books ahead of Brexit, an industry survey showed on Wednesday.

The report adds to a string of downbeat signals from manufacturers ahead of Brexit, now due in less than five months. 

“SME manufacturers are clearly feeling the pressure: both from softer global economic momentum, reflected in a tailing-off of exports orders, and Brexit uncertainty biting hard on investment plans,” CBI economist Alpesh Paleja said.

Optimism about export prospects for the year ahead waned to the weakest level since April 2009, during Britain’s last recession.

“(A) significant scaling back of planned capital spending is further proof that Brexit uncertainty is taking a real bite out of firms’ plans to grow and innovate,” Paleja said.