RBS Scotland private-sector activity index rises to 48.9 in August, NatWest tracker shows
NWG•Scotland private-sector activity edges closer to stabilisation
NatWest flagged Scotland’s private-sector conditions moving closer to stabilisation in August, based on the Royal Bank of Scotland Growth Tracker.
The Royal Bank of Scotland Business Activity Index rose to 48.9 from 47.3, indicating a modest contraction in combined manufacturing and services output.
Demand remains subdued while employment and pricing pressures improve
Subdued market conditions weighed on activity, with weaker demand reflected in fewer new orders.
Employment rose for a third straight month, with job creation among the strongest levels in the past two years.
Cost pressures eased, supporting expectations that price increases could moderate in coming months.
