Business activity improved for the 14th consecutive month in April, according to the latest Royal Bank of Scotland PMI figures.
The bank's Business Activity Index - a measure of combined manufacturing and service sector output - rose to 58.9 in April, up from 58.4 in March, indicating a faster increase in private sector output.
The latest uptick was supported by a strong and renewed upturn in manufacturing production, although a sharp expansion in services activity was recorded once again.