The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey showed the UK’s total order book balance improved to -27 in September 2025, up from -33 in July and slightly above market expectations of -30. Despite the modest recovery, the data highlighted ongoing weakness in the manufacturing sector, with firms citing concerns over the November budget, economic conditions, high energy costs, and difficulties hiring skilled workers. The CBI’s output gauge for the next three months slipped slightly to -14 from -13, while export orders edged up to -32 but remained well below the long-term average of -19. Meanwhile, manufacturers’ expectations for rising prices over the coming three months fell to their lowest level since October 2024.