UK manufacturing goes from strength to strength

Growth in the UK's manufacturing sector is continuing to pick up, with orders at their highest level since the start of the financial crisis.

According to the latest CBI survey, total orders rose for the fifth consecutive month, with exports rising strongly. Meanwhile, output growth for the three months to September rose to its highest rate since August 2011, and is expected to go on rising strongly over the next three months. CBI director of economics Stephen Gifford, pictured, said the results showed the manufacturing recovery continuing to gather pace. He continued: "Order books are the fullest they've been since the start of the financial crisis, and firms are ramping up production to meet demand. Firms are more upbeat about growth prospects in the coming quarter than at any time since 1995."