Industrial Outlook was first published July 1960 (Issue no.1). The editorial to its first issue states, 'For some time there has been growing pressure on the Industrial Department to publish a news-sheet which would be, in form and function, something between this Department's present Monthly Bulletin and the 'Industrial Note Book' in the Weekly News Letter. We hope Industrial Outlook, which will appear shortly after the end of each Parliamentary session, will fill the gap…In this new publication, as well as reporting on the main developments in Parliament, we shall publish articles on industrial and trade union matters, and shall provide information on the main union elections. We hope the articles will provoke discussion about the problems which face us in this age of change and challenge. We shall welcome our readers' views…. Industrial Outlook will be mainly for the ever-growing Conservative Trade Unionist Organisation; but it will also be for Conservatives generally and anyone else who may be interested.'

Industrial Outlook consisted of 8 pages. It was produced quarterly by Conservative Central Office. A large, 4-page format was adopted from 1970 (New Series, Vol. 1, No. 1). The last issue held dates from Jan 1975 (Vol 2, No. 12).