An influential business survey has pointed to fresh concerns over the health of the UK economy after recording a third successive drop in activity.
The NatWest North East Business Activity Index, which measures month-on-month changes in the region’s manufacturing and service sectors, slipped to a score of 48.4 in January, the fastest contraction in private sector activity for 12 months.
The North East was the only one of the 12 monitored regions and nations of the UK to register lower output at the start of 2022.
