Northern Ireland new orders grow at fastest pace since March, Ulster Bank survey shows

Northern Ireland’s private-sector activity expanded for a third consecutive month in September, with growth second-fastest in the UK behind London. The Business Activity Index fell to 53.0 from 55.5 in August, remaining above the 50.0 no-change threshold. New orders grew at the fastest pace since March, recording the strongest increase among the 12 monitored UK regions and nations. Job creation reached its fastest pace since March as backlogs rose at the sharpest rate in two years. Input cost inflation accelerated to a three-month high; selling price inflation eased, but both remained the UK’s highest. Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Natwest Group plc published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 14, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. (C)