North's economy 'continues slowdown'

The latest Ulster Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index report for Northern Ireland indicates the continued slowdown of growth of the Northern Ireland private sector economy, though this was in line with the general trend seen across the UK.

A fifth consecutive monthly decline in the seasonally-adjusted Business Activity Index to a level of 53.7, from 53.9 in November, suggested that the rate of growth had eased to its weakest for 18 months and was again below the UK average.