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[November 2000]
Manufacturers and Suppliers Optimistic about Future Prospects
Results of the Construction Products Association's State of Trade survey for the 3rd Quarter shows that a net balance of 38% of firms expect to see output increase in the next 12 months. Firms are also optimistic about export volumes in the year ahead, particularly on the lightside of the industry, where 73% of firms expect to see increases. Indications are, however, that with the continued strong value of the pound against the euro, the pressure on prices will continue to be very strong.
The results of the Survey were published on the day of the Association's Autumn Lunch attended by nearly 400 senior industry figures and their guests. Commenting on the Survey, the Association's President Roy Harrison said:
"The industry's optimism about the year ahead is encouraging. Underpinning this, however, is the expectation that the increased levels of investment in the built environment announced in this summer's Comprehensive Spending Review will start to feed through. The importance of the Government keeping to its plans for the maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure of this country have been only too clearly illustrated by recent events on the rail network.
"Also encouraging is that manufacturers are planning to increase investment over the next 12 months, particularly on plant and equipment and other business activities such as e-commerce. This can only lead to increasing productivity in our sector."
ENDS