Output expectations have slumped in November to their lowest level since 1980, with 14% of the manufacturers expecting their output level to rise in the coming months, and 56% expecting it to fall, which shows a balance of -42, down from -31 in October.
Domestic and foreign orders have been affected by the global economic slowdown, and order books have remained practically unchanged in November, -38, against -39 in October, which was the lowest level of the last five years.
Ian McCafferty, the CBI's Chief Economic Adviser affirms that the outlook for manufacturers remains rather grim: "The outlook for manufacturers has deteriorated considerably since the banking crisis took a turn for the worse in October. Expectations for output are now the gloomiest in 28 years, while firms' order books remain weak."