Richard Ramsey says September has shown the fastest rates of growth in the private sector for almost a year
Growth in Northern Ireland's private sector picked up last month, helped by lower commodity prices, according to Ulster Bank.
The bank's purchasing managers' index (PMI) is a monthly survey of firms' activities, tracking new orders, employment and exports.
In September it showed the fastest rate of growth in almost a year.
The bank said the manufacturing sector benefited from falling prices for fuel and steel.
Richard Ramsey, Ulster Bank's chief economist, said the retail sector posted the fastest rates of growth in employment, orders and activity.
He explained that the "'noflation' environment" coupled with pay increases has boosted disposable incomes, and retailers are the primary beneficiaries from improved consumer sentiment.
But the performance of the construction sector remains patchy and it saw a contraction in activity across the third quarter of this year.
Mr Ramsey said a big area of concern is the global economic slowdown which "appears to be gathering momentum".
