This publication generally covers intelligence gathered from business contacts between late November 2017 and mid‑January 2018. It generally makes comparisons with activity and prices over the past three months on a year earlier.
- Growth in activity had held steady at a modest pace. Professional services firms had reported a pickup in growth; goods export volumes had strengthened, construction output growth had continued to slow.
- Investment intentions had remained positive, but mainly reflected investment to maintain business activity.
- Recruitment difficulties had remained at an elevated level, and pay growth had picked up.
Agents' summary of business conditions - February 2018 update