The survey said output was being increased by higher domestic demand A growing number of small manufacturers are now expecting to increase production to meet rising demand, according to the CBI business group.
Its latest SME Trends Survey found that 31% of such firms expect to boost output in November-January, while only 12% are predicting a fall.
This gives a balance of +19%, better that the +9% figure recorded for the past three months.
However, the majority of small manufacturers see no change in output.
Russel Griggs, chairman of the CBI’s SME council, said: “Smaller manufacturers saw the pace of output growth slow slightly in the last three months after the fillip from stock rebuilding dwindled.
“But manufacturers expect a faster rise in production in the coming three months as demand at home strengthens.
“It is encouraging that firms have increased their headcount this quarter and are now planning to invest in plant and machinery, and innovation.”
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