Back-to-back monthly expansion in business activity has been recorded in the region, although February’s strong return softened significantly.
The NatWest Yorkshire and Humber PMI Business Activity Index remained in positive territory, but it dipped from the eight month high leap to 52.6 back to 50.7. At just above the no change 50.0 mark, it gave the region a rare ranking as one of the weakest-performing at the end of the first quarter, against a national average of 52.2.
Although it was the lightest rise in new business, it was the best improvement in order books for the past six months.
