UK manufacturers stockpiled at a record pace in the three months to April, as they prepared for Brexit, a key survey shows

The Confederation of British Industry, publishing its latest industrial trends survey, said: “The three months to April saw an unprecedented acceleration in the growth of stocks held by the manufacturing sector.

“Stocks of raw materials, work in progress, and finished goods all grew at their fastest respective paces on record. It is likely that much of this activity was driven by Brexit uncertainty in the lead up to the UK’s original March 29 departure date from the EU.”