UK Post Further Recovery in Sept. as Inflation Pressures Surges-PMI

The regional PMI data from NatWest signaled further broad-based improvements in business activity and employment across all economies and regions in September.

Source: NatWest

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Meanwhile, supply chain issues and labor shortages hampered growth while also leading to upward pressure on costs and prices.

The PMI Business Activity Index is the first fact-based indicator of regional economic health, reported each month, tracking the monthly change in output of goods and services across the private sectors.

Any figure above 50 indicates growth, and the higher above the 50 level, the faster the expansion of the company.

There were sections of strong business activity growth in September, with Wales, reporting the fastest growth (index at 57.1), the West Midlands (56.3), Scotland (56.1), and London (55.9).

A few areas in the UK continued to lose pace, but the North East remained at 51.0, indicating a marginal increase in economic activity on the month.

All regions reported faster increases in output prices in September. Northern Ireland again posted the steepest increase in average prices charged, followed by Wales.