UK CBI: Total Order Books Balance Improves in August

06:30 AM EDT, 08/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Total new orders in the UK manufacturing sector climbed to -25% in August from -45% in July, the Confederation of British Industry's industrial trends survey showed Thursday. Analysts expected the reading to stand at -40%. Total order books, however, were reported as below "normal" during the month, remaining under their long-run average of -14%.