A gauge of British factory orders rose to -25 in August 2026 from -45 in July, beating expectations of -40 and reaching its highest level since November 2024. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), a British business group, said the 20-point increase was the sharpest monthly improvement in more than five years, although the negative reading still indicated declining order books. Expectations for factory output strengthened, while export orders moved into positive territory for the first time since June 2022. The improvement pointed to greater resilience in UK manufacturing despite the ongoing economic impact of the Iran conflict. CBI Senior Economist Cameron Martin attributed the improvement partly to stronger global demand but cautioned that it was too early to determine whether conditions had entered a sustained recovery. Manufacturers continued to report significant cost pressures, with expected selling prices rising to +22 from +11, likely reflecting the recent rebound in crude oil prices and renewed concerns over input costs.