Output from the region’s manufacturing and service sectors rose for the second month in a row, according to an influential business survey.
The NatWest North East PMI Business Activity Index rose to a score of 55.8 in April, the fastest rate of growth in almost two years. Among the 12 UK regions, the North East registered the second highest increase in output, though there were signs that inflationary pressures are still taking a toll on firms in the region.
Within the survey, the Future Activity Index rose in April to the highest since October 2021, indicating a brighter outlook among North East companies, though the region still has the lowest business confidence in the UK. The survey’s Employment Index rose in April, signalling a rise in staffing levels for the first time since last May.
