After the severe short-term reaction to the Brexit vote, the UK manufacturing PMI now signals a return to more normal patterns and the stock market has recovered. Nevertheless, confidence remains weak. In the short term, it has largely been a phoney war. Sterling weakness has provided an opportunity for exporters. However, imported raw materials have also increased in price, as seen in the September inflation report with the input price index up 7.6%. Factory gate prices are lagging beh ....