The Newcastle skyline, viewed looking across from Gateshead towards the Tyne Bridge and the Glasshouse -Credit:Newcastle Chronicle
The North East economy saw its first increase in activity for 10 months but remains one of the weakest performing in the UK, according to an influential business survey.
The NatWest North East PMI Business Activity Index, which measures month-on-month change in the region’s manufacturing and service sectors, jumped from 47.5 to 50.2 in March. This was the first increase in activity for 10 months but still the second lowest ranking of the 12 UK regions, with only Yorkshire and Humber seeing a downturn.
The survey found that new business for businesses in the region fell again, marking nearly a year of successive monthly declines in demand for North East goods and services. Companies polled linked the drop in demand to the UK’s challenging economic…
