The decline in the manufacturing sector is continuing to slow, although the majority of firms are still reporting falling business, according to data released by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Industrial Trends Survey.

Of those companies surveyed 43% of firms reported that manufacturing output continued to fall in the three months to July and 12% reported a rise, giving a balance of -31%. However, this is an improvement on the previous quarter's figure of -53%.

"These figures reinforce our view that the road out of recession will be long and slow," said Ian McCafferty, chief economic adviser of the CBI.