Business output soars to highest level in nearly two years – marking a ‘turning point’ for UK economy

Business output has risen to the highest level in almost two years – marking a ‘turning point’ for the UK economy.

Research showed that business activity rose for the second month in a row in March.

Accounting firm BDO said the manufacturing index rose to 103.39 – the highest level since May 2022. Above 95 indicates growth.

The rise was driven by falling inflation – recorded at 3.4 percent in February – but experts said ‘we are not out of the woods yet’ as measures of business optimism and employment figures both plummeted.

BDO’s entrepreneurial optimism index fell 0.16 points to 99.33 – the first decline since November.

And the employment index fell for the ninth month in a row last month to 98.32 – the weakest point in almost eleven years.

BDO partner Kaley Crossthwaite said: ‘Production is at its highest point in almost two years, illustrating Britain’s robustness.

‘For companies, the mood at the moment is mainly cautious optimism – with the decline in the employment and optimism index showing that we are not out of the woods yet.’