British manufacturing continues to face low orders and upward price pressure, says CBI

The Guardian - World NewsEN 2 min read 100% complete by Tom KnowlesFebruary 19, 2026 at 04:07 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

A recent CBI industrial trends survey reveals that British manufacturing continues to face challenges in February, with orders remaining below average. The survey, which gauges conditions for manufacturing firms, indicates that most companies anticipate raising prices and decreasing output over the next three months. While some business surveys suggest rising optimism, the CBI's findings point to ongoing low confidence and elevated cost pressures impacting customer demand. Although factory output saw a slight improvement compared to January, it still declined overall. The expected price gauge remains high, nearing levels seen during the energy price shock of early 2023. The CBI urges the government to accelerate its planned energy price reduction scheme for manufacturers to alleviate current pressures and boost competitiveness.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Labour government 40% Federation of Small Businesses 40% Ukraine 50% Russia 50% Cameron Martin 60% United Kingdom ×280% Confederation of British Industry ×690%

Keywords

british manufacturing 100% price pressure 80% low orders 80% cbi industrial trends survey 70% output decline 60% uk economy 60% industrial strategy 50% energy costs 50% economic growth 40%