10/11/2014

Business Growth Slows

Growth in Northern Ireland business activity has slowed to a 16-month low, according to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) from Ulster Bank.

The report shows that private sector output grew in October, albeit at a slower rate than recorded in September. It was also slower than the UK average.

"October saw Northern Ireland's private sector recovery extended to 16 months, however, the latest report marked the slowest rate of growth in business activity during that period," said Ulster Bank chief economist Richard Ramsey.

"All sectors saw a slowdown, however this was most marked within the services and retail sectors. Indeed, local retailers were the only sector to report an outright decline in business activity.

"Despite the overall slowdown in growth, the near-term outlook remains relatively positive, as there is significant momentum in the local economy and its key trading partners, GB and the Republic of Ireland. This momentum should drive the local economy into 2015."

(IT/JP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 October 2010
Economy Needs Fillip - Not Cut-backs
Stimulating enterprise and trade must be a priority going beyond public sector cuts says banking economists. According to the Northern Bank's Chief Economist Angela McGowan, (pictured) decision-makers need to bring forward measures for growing the private sector alongside anticapated proposals to slim the public sector.
28 September 2004
Small business sector 'confident but concerned'
A new report has revealed that over half of Northern Ireland's small businesses have been victims of crime during the past year. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) 'Lifting the Barriers to Growth' Biennial Membership Survey 2004 examined issues and problems relating to small business growth in the province.
05 November 2010
Construction Downturn Defies 'Recovery'
Some parts of Northern Ireland's private sector are still growing despite a weak economic recovery that is underlined by continuing problems in the building sector. That's according to Northern Bank Chief Economist Angela McGowan (pictured) whose latest 'Quarterly Sectoral Forecasts' report forecasts annual growth of 1.0% overall for 2010 and 1.
27 June 2013
NIPSA Slam Chancellor's Budget Cuts
Public sector trade union, NIPSA, has criticised Chancellor George Osborne following Wednesday afternoon's Spending Review. Yesterday, Mr Osborne revealed Northern Ireland's budget for the year 2015/16 is to be cut by 2% to £9.6bn.
18 January 2012
UK Govt. Criticised Over Public-Sector Job Cuts
Northern Ireland will be the UK region hardest hit by public sector job cuts. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that 26,000 public sector jobs would go in NI by 2017. It said the executive must take firm action to defend the NI economy from the coalition government's plans.