NatWest UK Regional PMI® – February 2024
The latest NatWest Regional PMI® survey showed business activity growing across most parts of the UK in February. Business confidence also generally picked up amid a more broad-based improvement in underlying demand. Labour market trends remained more varied, however, with firms in most areas reporting stronger cost pressures and low capacity utilisation.
The PMI Business Activity Index is the first fact-based indicator of regional economic health published each month, tracking the monthly change in the output of goods and services across the private sector. A reading above 50 signals growth, and the further above the 50 level the faster the expansion signalled.
Two-thirds of the monitored UK nations and regions recorded business activity growth in February. London remained out in front despite seeing its pace expansion ease to a three-month low (index at 56.5). At the other end of the scale, Wales (47.5) posted a solid and accelerated fall in output, while declines were also seen in the North East (47.5), Yorkshire & Humber (48.3) and South West (49.3).
Demand
February data showed a growing number of areas reporting higher inflows of new business. There were renewed upturns in Scotland, the South East and the East of England, while the strongest overall increase was once again recorded in London. Firms in Yorkshire & Humber, Wales and the North East by contrast reported further reductions in new work.
Prices
Cost pressures intensified across most parts of the UK in February. Input prices continued growing fastest in London, where the rate of inflation quickened to a six-month high. Only in the East of England and Scotland did costs rise more slowly compared with January. Northern Ireland* saw the weakest overall increase and was unique in recording a rate of cost inflation below its long-run average.
Firms in London recorded the sharpest overall rise in prices charged for goods and services in February, as has been the case in five of the past six months. They were followed by those in the East of England. Rates of output price inflation generally quickened, except for in Scotland and the West Midlands. The slowest increase in charges was once again seen in Northern Ireland.
Capacity
Scotland topped the rankings for employment growth for the fourth time in the past five months in February, pushing London back down into second place. The East of England, Northern Ireland, South West and South East all saw slight increases in workforce numbers, while the North West recorded no change. Job cuts were seen everywhere else.
Falling backlogs of work remained a common theme across the UK during February, in a sign of a general lack of pressure on business capacity. The South East saw the most marked decrease, followed by Wales. Only London recorded a rise in outstanding business, though even there the increase was marginal and slower than seen in January.
Outlook
Business expectations improved in the majority of areas in February. The South East recorded the highest degree of optimism, the first time this has been the case for eight months. Confidence was lowest in the North East, which was one of just two areas where sentiment weakened from the month before (along with the West Midlands).
* PMI survey coverage in Northern Ireland includes construction and retail, as well as manufacturing and services.
Sebastian Burnside, NatWest chief economist, commented: “These latest PMI figures build on the positive start to the year we reported last month, with business activity rising in the majority of nations and regions in February. Encouragingly, growth in most cases is being supported by increasing levels of new business, indicating a pick-up in underlying demand and hinting that the upturn as has legs.”
“Business confidence has generally perked up and in many areas has improved considerably since the start of the year, in a further boost to the outlook.”
“Price pressures generally increased across the UK in February, with businesses reporting a combination of growing wage demands and costs increases related to the Red Sea shipping disruption. Inflation indicators remain particularly high in London, but they have picked up again in most other areas, too.”
“With falling backlogs of work suggesting a lack on strain on business capacity, and wage pressures remaining persistently high, we’re still seeing some caution towards hiring. The UK labour market as a whole is treading water amid mixed sub-national trends in employment.”
