U.K. business confidence plunged in late March and early April in comparison to the start of the year among the U.K.'s small and medium-sized manufacturers, the Confederation of British Industry reported.
The CBI survey found 12% of SMEs were more optimistic about their business situation than four months ago, while 42% were less so, giving a balance of minus 30 points compared with January's plus 7.
U.K. opinion polls released Sunday indicated Labour was heading for a landslide victory in the U.K. general election due June 7, as expected.