Stanbic IBTC Bank stated this in its Purchasing Managers’ Index report for November 2020. It stated that companies continued to raise purchasing activity and employment in line with rising new order inflows. It said higher staffing allowed firms to reduce the level of outstanding business for the sixth month running, while vendor performance improved in November. Meanwhile, firms remained optimistic about output in the year ahead with plans to upgrade software and expand operations often cited by firms. Report said that the inflationary pressures remained marked on the price front. It said overall input costs increased amid higher raw material costs and currency weakness.