The English regions have helped drive the 海角视频 economy forward as the country starts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, new figures have shown.
The latest NatWest Regional PMI data for July showed increases in business activity across all nine English regions and Northern Ireland.
The PMI index tracks the monthly change in the output of goods and services in the private sector, with any reading above 50 signalling growth.
The index showed "especially strong rates of growth" in the West Midlands (61.9), North East (60.4), Yorkshire & Humber (59.7) and the South West (59.7).
Scotland lagged behind the rest of the 海角视频 at 49.3,though the downturn was the weakest seen since coronavirus hit. In Wales, business activity broadly stabilised at 50.2 after four months of decline.
The survey showed showed a further "broad-based decrease in employment" across the 海角视频 regions, with London showing the steepest overall decline.
Expectations were generally positive across the 海角视频, with only Northern Irish firms downbeat about the overall outlook. NatWest said: "Confidence improved in most regions, including Yorkshire & Humber and the West Midlands, which recorded the joint-highest overall optimism."
Sebastian Burnside, NatWest chief economist, said: "The PMI data suggest that a two-speed recovery has emerged across the 海角视频, which is closely associated with the pace at which each nation has lifted lockdown measures. England has had a head-start in its recovery and is reaping some economic benefit of a quicker reopening, with Scotland and Wales playing catch up.
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"Renewed local lockdowns – which we've already started to see across areas of England – mean we can expect further divergences in regional performances going forward.
"July's survey provided some eye-catching numbers, not least the near-record growth of business activity in the West Midlands, but it's important to remember that what we're seeing is merely a 'technical' rebound as businesses resume and ramp up operations following the lockdown.
"There's still a long way to go in the recovery, but it does seem to be a case of so far, so good.
"However, the latest data did little to relieve the angst surrounding the labour market, with all regions seeing further marked – and sometimes faster – declines in employment in July.
"And unfortunately, it seems there's still no end in sight to COVID-19 related redundancies, given the large number of workers on furlough and the still-significant gap to pre-crisis output levels."