Ian McCafferty Quotations

Only two of the 10 industry groups surveyed this month - chemicals and metal products - expect prices to rise in their sector over the coming three months. Cost pressures from high oil and transportation prices will only serve to depress profits further,

We are disappointed that the Bank did not take the opportunity to provide some support for the fragile economy.

There are emerging signs that the hard-pressed manufacturing sector is improving.

There are glimmers of hope on the horizon for manufacturers who have endured a long-lasting downturn.

The slightly less negative recent news from the housing and retail sectors contrasts with increasing pressures on manufacturers from the high cost of fuel and materials.

The sustained high level of oil and sharply increased gas prices have driven up energy and raw material costs and manufacturers are continuing to respond by cutting employment to curb the wage bill and boosting investment in efficiency-improving measures.

The service sector in recent years has been an important driver of growth,

With retailing and manufacturing both very weak, the fact that services are slowing is particularly worrying.

With energy costs up sharply in recent months and some disappointing developments in the global economy, there is no doubt UK manufacturers still face a challenging business environment. Nevertheless, this survey provides some encouraging news.

Although it is too early to say if this month's decline in export demand is the start of a trend, the fall is a further blow for manufacturers at a difficult time. Firms will be hoping this is not the first sign of slow-down in the global economy in the face of the latest oil price increases.

We think there's room for a small cut and look to the Bank to do so if there's no sign of a pick-up in momentum in the economy.

The Bank has chosen to follow a steady course. This is particularly understandable given current mixed economic signals. The slightly less negative recent news from the housing and retail sectors contrasts with increasing pressures on manufacturers from the high cost of fuel and materials. The MPC should stay alert to further weaknesses in the economy and must remain on standby to cut rates over the coming months.

Conditions for manufacturers are getting increasingly tough as costs continue their seemingly inexorable rise but weak demand keeps prices down, squeezing already thin profit margins even further.

Christmas, in retailing terms, is coming later and later each year as consumers play chicken with the high street and delay their spending in the expectation of late price cuts as the big day draws nearer.

The increase in business with private individuals in the past three months is striking, and partly reflects the pick-up in the housing market from last year's low.

A combination of weak consumer spending and challenging world markets is weighing on UK manufacturing.