The headline NatWest South East Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – climbed a survey-record 16.5 points from May to 49.3 in June, signalling a significantly softer reduction in private sector activity.

The seasonally adjusted New Business Index remained below the 50.0 neutral mark for a fourth successive month during June, to signal a further reduction in order book volumes in the South East. Panellists linked the fall to weak demand conditions. That said, the index rose 15.8 points from May to indicate a substantially softer rate of decline, with some firms reporting that looser restrictions had allowed companies to restart operations.

Incoming new business also fell at the UK level during June, with the rate of contraction slightly outpacing that seen in the South East.

Private sector firms in the South East remained confident with regards to activity over the coming 12-months in May. In fact, sentiment improved further and reached a four-month high. Anecdotal evidence linked optimism to looser lockdown restrictions and hopes of an economic recovery once the pandemic is under control.

Moreover, the level of positive sentiment in the South East exceeded that recorded at the UK level in June.

Workforce numbers in the South East’s private sector declined again in June, as has been the case in all but one of the past 11 months. Companies frequently mentioned redundancies and lay-offs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of job shedding softened slightly from May but remained marked overall.

That said, across the 12 monitored UK regions, only the North West and the East Midlands recorded a softer reduction in staff numbers than the South East.

Private sector firms in the South East recorded another reduction in the level of outstanding business during May, extending the current sequence of decline to 21 months. Panellists reported that lower activity requirements had allowed them to direct resources to clearing backlogs. The rate of depletion was sharp, albeit the softest for four months.

At the sector level, manufacturers drove the overall decline in June, recording a further substantial reduction in backlogs and outpacing the fall seen at services firms.

Private sector firms in the South East recorded an increase in input prices for the first time in three months during June. Anecdotal evidence linked the rise to greater staff costs, as well as costs for personal protective equipment (PPE). The rate of inflation was marginal overall.

At the sector level, manufacturers drove the overall rise, recording a moderate uptick in cost burden. Meanwhile, input prices at services firms fell again.

The seasonally adjusted Prices Charged Index posted only just below the 50.0 no- change mark in June, to signal broadly stable selling prices at the South East’s private sector firms following three months of successive declines.

By comparison, average selling prices fell at the UK level in June, although the decline eased since May.