LONDON (MktNews) - Economic indicators showed in February that the UK economy is likely to slow in the first half of the year but then pick up in the second half, according to NTC Research on Friday. The NTC leading indicator rose to 100.90 in February from 100.11 in January, suggesting that "the likelihood of growth picking up in the second half has improved." The indicator was buoyed by rises in new car registrations, unfilled job vacancies, M4 money supply growth, consumer confidence and a positive contribution from the yield curve. But strong downward pressure was exerted by falls in share prices, housing starts, consumer credit, and lending and borrowing. The NTC Coincident Indicator -- which monitors the current position of the UK business cycle -- fell just below the 100 mark for the first time since April 1992, signalling a further easing in growth into the first quarter of 2001.