The NatWest Growth Tracker found the regional economy had stalled slightly in June

The North East economy stalled slightly in June as it ended a four-month run of increasing growth, a business survey suggests.
The NatWest Growth Tracker – which measures month-on-month change in the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – fell from 54.0 in May to 52.0 in June. Though that score still denotes a growing economy, it is the softest level of growth since March.
Companies surveyed for the report reported healthy order book volumes and a third consecutive month of growth in new business. There was also a sharp increase in hiring in the region, with new workers brought in to aid production and activity requirements and to support companies’ growth plans.