A ray of optimism shines out of a rather downbeat comment on the year ahead for Britain's manufacturers from the EEF, the manufacturers' organisation.
Based on an estimate that the UK economy as a whole will grow at less than 1% this year, the growth prediction for the manufacturing sector is a little higher at 1.2%.
The key comment is that "the best prospects for growth lie in the UK's export potential" as the world economy returns to growth.
The message is clear "manufacturing will have a big role to play" in the UK's future economic success.
This is a message which should be filtering through the corridors of power.
It seems that Lord Mandelson realised this some time ago.
The hope is that he can act on his instincts and convince the rest of the Cabinet that a future government can no longer rely so heavily on the financial and retail services sector to drive growth.
The hope is that he can act on his instincts and convince the rest of the Cabinet that a future government can no longer rely so heavily on the financial and retail services sector to drive growth.
So starting this year it is possible that the manufacturing sector will grow faster that the economy as a hold.
That would have been unthinkable just 18 months ago, before the world began familiar with phrases such as "sub-prime", "banker's bonuses" and "quantative easing".
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