Businesses remained confident moving into 2021, a survey suggests
- Credit: Spectra Packaging
East of England firms battling the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic cut their workforces in November, but remain confident about the future, a survey suggests.
The headline NatWest East of England Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – fell from 54.9 in October to 51.2 in November.
The latest figure signalled the softest expansion in the current five-month period of growth, although the rise in business activity – albeit marginal – contrasted with a decline across the UK as a whole. Survey respondents attributed the moderation to tightening restrictions implemented to control the surge in coronavirus cases.
Output flatlined across the East of England in December. PIC RICHARD SNASDELL
- Credit: Richard Snasdell
Output stagnated across the East of England in December as the country braced itself for another testing period, figures show.
But the region was one of only two to bolster its private sector workforce in December, the latest NatWest East of England Business Activity Index shows.
The index measures performance across the manufacturing and service sectors, with 50 indicating a balance of positive and negative responses from its panellists.
It revealed seasonally-adjusted month-on-month output across the east s manufacturing and service fell from 51.2 to 50.1 in December with survey respondents attributing the stagnation to tighter coronavirus restrictions.