Growth eases off but London is still leader

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Research today showed output in the capital increased faster than in anywhere else in Britain last month as the City bounced back from the financial crisis.

But it also showed that the pace of recovery in London and the UK dropped to a two-month low.

The research, by Markit, provided further evidence that the economy grew again in the first quarter of 2010 having expanded by 0.4% in the final three months of 2009.

Markit said the purchasing managers' index, where 50 marks the cut-off between growth and decline, hit 57.7 in the UK in March, down from 58.7 in February.

In London, the index fell from 62.9 to 61.8 while in the south-east it dipped to 59 from 59.7.

The worst-performing region was Northern Ireland, which remained firmly in recession despite the index rising from 42.4 in February to 47.1 last month.

Markit economist Tim Moore said growth around the country was driven by manufacturers.

"Companies with clients in international markets continued to benefit from improving global demand and the relative weakness of sterling," he said.