The Scottish private sector reported a further fall in total activity during January, according to the latest Royal Bank of Scotland PMI data.
The Business Activity Index - a measure of combined manufacturing and service sector output - fell from December's five-month high of 48.3 to 47.1, signalling a quickened contraction in private sector output and extended the current run of contraction to six consecutive months.
The rising cost of living, supply chain disruptions and a slowdown in the housing market all contributed towards the latest downturn in activity.