Resilient demand for West Midlands goods and services underpinned sustained growth of new business and output midway through the fourth quarter, according to the latest NatWest PMI data. Firms also became more optimistic about the year-ahead outlook for business activity, a factor that spurred recruitment efforts. Price pressures intensified, but remained among the weakest in around three years. The monthly report, a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors, was little-changed from October's reading of 50.7, registering 50.6 in…
