The UK manufacturing sector saw a notable improvement in sentiment in September, as the CBI Industrial Trends Orders balance climbed to -9 from -25 in August 2026. The latest reading, updated on 22 September 2026, suggests that while order books remain in negative territory, the pace of deterioration has slowed markedly.
August’s -25 reading had underscored significant weakness in industrial demand, highlighting pressure on manufacturers from both domestic and external markets. The move to -9 in September indicates that fewer firms are reporting below-normal order books compared with the previous month, hinting at a potential stabilisation in the sector.
Although the indicator is still negative, the sharp month-on-month improvement may be interpreted by investors and policymakers as an early sign that the worst of the recent downturn in UK industrial orders could be easing, pending confirmation from upcoming data releases and survey results.
