The shallowest of downturns has been recorded in business activity in the Yorkshire and Humber region as the new year began.
January’s combined output for the manufacturing and service sectors fell just 0.1 per cent from December's 48.7 to 48.6, and while it was the fourth successive monthly reduction, business confidence increased and jobs growth returned.
Analysis of the NatWest Yorkshire & Humber PMI Business Activity Index saw little change, wit the decline the weakest seen in the contraction that began in October. And while the level of incoming new work fell, the future activity index hit an eight-month high to signal a strengthening of optimism among regional firms. In addition, the region posted the second-strongest level of confidence when compared against the other eleven monitored parts of the UK.
