In its monthly industrial trends survey, the Confederation of British Industry said the total order book balance stood at +8 pct in June, equalling March's 12-year record. This is above analyst expectations for the reading to remain unchanged from May at +5 pct. The number of firms expecting to increase prices fell back to +16 pct after reaching a 12-year record high of +25 pct in May. June's reading is the 13th consecutive positive reading. This is likely to ease the Bank of England's concerns about pipeline inflation pressures, although is unlikely to later market expectations that the Monetary Policy Committee will raise its key repo rate from the current 5.50 pct next month. Elsewhere in today's survey, the CBI said the output balance stood at +25 pct in June. That's up on May's +18 pct and above market expectations for it to remain unchanged. Also of note was the proportion of firms reporting stocks levels being less than adequate which fell to a 19-year low of -2 pct, after May's reading of + 8 pct. "The manufacturing sector is motoring along with solid order books and strong expectations of output growth," said Ian McCafferty, CBi chief economic adviser. However he added that the fall in the prices balance suggests inflation concerns stemming from the sector should ease.