EAMA business outlook mixed
1 min read
For the third month in a row (November), a very substantial majority of firms reported an increase in inquiries from UK businesses, according to EAMA (the Engineering and Machinery Alliance), which represents 1,400 mostly mechanical engineering SMEs.
With more than half of all companies recording UK increases, the overall balance on prospects at +41 per cent was the highest recorded for 2009, by a long way. But the split of firms reporting changes on export inquiries was unchanged from October at +16 per cent.
Performance on orders was disappointing, says EAMA, with falls in the shares of companies that reported increases and rises in the numbers reporting lower orders. As such, the export balance turned negative again (-12 per cent) and UK business was only just positive (+7 per cent).
This month, says the association, firms were also asked to compare their order levels with November a year ago. Over half reported declines averaging 25 per cent, but over a quarter did report an increase averaging around 10 per cent, while 18 per cent said order levels were the same as a year ago.
Note: EAMA has its secretariat at The Manufacturing Technologies Association's Bayswater Road, London, offices.
