Despite the short month and adverse weather, December results from the Manufacturing Technology Association's (MTA's) monthly survey of members show increased order intake and invoiced sales in UK's manufacturing technology sector, setting a positive tone for 2011.
Results of the survey show order intake increased by 10% in December, and invoiced sales grew nearly 60%, supporting recent data published by the British Chambers of Commerce which showed that strong performance in the manufacturing sector during Q4 has helped boost the UK economy.
Not surprisingly, business confidence is on the increase; however a dip was seen in the quantity of inquiries over December. This apparently seasonal reduction in inquiries may be attributed to the shorter working month.
In regards to employment, the trend remains positive with a number of MTA members looking to recruit in the New Year.