Demand for UK manufactured goods remains very weak, but is less depressed than it has been for much of 2009, and over the next three months firms expect output to grow slightly, the CBI has said.

Responding to the CBI's latest monthly Industrial Trends Survey, 27 per cent of manufacturers anticipate a higher volume of output over the next three months, while 23 per cent said it would fall.

The balance of plus four per cent marks the second consecutive month where marginal output growth is expected.

A balance of 45 per cent of firms said total order book levels were below normal, which was a slight improvement on October (minus 51 per cent), and the least negative since December 2008 (-35 per cent).

Export order book levels were weak, with a balance of 37 per cent reporting them to be below normal. This slight improvement on October (-46 per cent) may reflect greater interest in UK exports because of weakened Sterling.

Ian McCafferty, CBI Chief Economic Adviser, said: "Manufacturers have had another testing month, though conditions are not quite as bleak as they have been for much of 2009.

”The weaker pound has softened the blow for exports, but the ongoing lack of demand for manufactured goods reconfirms that any recovery will be anaemic and slow. Expectations of marginal growth in output in the coming months are encouraging, but rising stock levels leave a question mark over the strength of demand."