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UK economic growth bounces back as services sector expands UK economic growth bounces back as services sector expands
(about 1 hour later)
Evidence that the UK economy has bounced back from a soft patch in the opening months of 2018 has emerged after a closely watched survey of the services sector showed stronger-than-expected activity last month. Evidence that the UK economy has bounced back from a soft patch in the opening months of 2018 has emerged after a closely watched survey of the services sector showed stronger than expected activity last month.
In the latest sign that bad weather held back the economy during the first quarter, the health check by the Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply and Markit reported the strongest growth in eight months. In the latest sign that bad weather held back the economy during the first quarter, the health check by the Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply and IHS Markit reported the strongest growth in eight months.
Markit’s chief economist, Chris Williamson, said the improvement shown by the service sector suggested that the economy would expand by 0.4% in the second quarter – double its rate of growth between January and March. IHS Markit’s chief economist, Chris Williamson, said the improvement shown by the service sector suggested the economy would expand by 0.4% in the second quarter – double its rate of growth between January and March.
With the June CIPS/Markit surveys for manufacturing and construction also beating expectations, the City said chances of an August interest rate rise from the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) had increased. With the June IHS Markit/Cips surveys for manufacturing and construction also beating expectations, the City said chances of an August interest rate rise from the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) had increased.
“Stronger growth of service sector activity adds to signs that the economy rebounded in the second quarter and opens the door for an August rate hike, especially when viewed alongside the news that inflationary pressures spiked higher,” Williamson said.“Stronger growth of service sector activity adds to signs that the economy rebounded in the second quarter and opens the door for an August rate hike, especially when viewed alongside the news that inflationary pressures spiked higher,” Williamson said.
“It remains encouraging yet also surprising that current business activity continues to show such resilience amid relatively moribund confidence regarding the year ahead outlook.” “It remains encouraging, yet also surprising, that current business activity continues to show such resilience amid relatively moribund confidence regarding the year ahead outlook.”
The CIPS/Markit purchasing managers’ index rose from 54.0 in May to 55.1 in June, with reports of a robust and accelerated pick-up in activity. Any reading above 50 indicates that the sector is expanding. The IHS Markit/Cips purchasing managers’ index rose from 54.0 in May to 55.1 in June, with reports of a robust and accelerated pick-up in activity. Any reading above 50 indicates that the sector is expanding.
Ruth Gregory, a UK economist at Capital Economics, said that it was possible that the survey was underestimating the bounce-back in the economy because its findings do not include reports from retailing, which has been boosted in recent months by falling inflation, the royal wedding and the recent fine weather. Ruth Gregory, a UK economist at Capital Economics, said it was possible the survey was underestimating the bounce-back in the economy because its findings do not include reports from retailing, which has been boosted in recent months by falling inflation, the royal wedding and the recent fine weather.
“The fact that the services survey also contained signs of a strengthening in domestically generated inflation also bolsters the chances that the MPC will press ahead and hike interest rates soon,” Gregory added.“The fact that the services survey also contained signs of a strengthening in domestically generated inflation also bolsters the chances that the MPC will press ahead and hike interest rates soon,” Gregory added.
Inflation was 2.4% in May and is still above the government’s 2% target despite falling back in recent months.Inflation was 2.4% in May and is still above the government’s 2% target despite falling back in recent months.
Three of the nine members of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee voted for a quarter-point increase in official borrowing costs when it met last month, but August will see the release of Threadneedle Street’s quarterly update on the economy and is seen as a more likely date for a move. Three of the nine members of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee voted for a quarter-point increase in official borrowing costs when it met last month but Threadneedle Street’s quarterly update on the economy will be released in August and is seen as a more likely date for a move.
Some analysts said, however, that the Bank might again delay raising rates – as it did in May – once hard economic data came in over the next few weeks. However, some analysts said the Bank might again delay raising rates – as it did in May – once hard economic data came in over the next few weeks.
Dean Turner, a UK economist at UBS Wealth Management, said: “Our expectation is that the data will not be strong enough to encourage the Bank to hike as soon as August.”Dean Turner, a UK economist at UBS Wealth Management, said: “Our expectation is that the data will not be strong enough to encourage the Bank to hike as soon as August.”
Businesses in the services sector, which include bars, restaurants and hotels, and accounts for about three-quarters of the UK economy, took on new work at the fastest rate in just over a year. Firms said new product launches, marketing initiatives and improving economic conditions helped increase business. Businesses in the services sector, which include bars, restaurants and hotels, and accounts for about three-quarters of the UK economy, took on new work at the fastest rate in just over a year. Firms said product launches, marketing initiatives and improving economic conditions helped increase business.
But companies reiterated that Brexit-related uncertainty had held back investment, affecting spending by large companies in particular.But companies reiterated that Brexit-related uncertainty had held back investment, affecting spending by large companies in particular.
At the same time, business costs have risen sharply on the back of surging oil prices and the need to offer higher wages.At the same time, business costs have risen sharply on the back of surging oil prices and the need to offer higher wages.
Markit reported similar findings in its survey of the eurozone, where a pick-up in business activity in June pointed to 0.5% GDP growth in the second quarter, up from 0.4% in the first. This should encourage the European Central Bank to start tightening policy later this year. IHS Markit reported similar findings in its survey of the eurozone, where a pick-up in business activity in June pointed to 0.5% GDP growth in the second quarter, up from 0.4% in the first. This should encourage the European Central Bank to start tightening policy later this year.
The ECB has already set out plans to end its bond-buying programme by the end of the year, dismantling the economic stimulus a decade after the eurozone’s downturn started. However, interest rates are likely to stay on hold for quite some time, and ECB president Mario Draghi might leave office in October 2019 without having raised rates once during his eight-year term. The ECB has already set out plans to end its bond-buying programme by the end of the year, dismantling the economic stimulus a decade after the eurozone’s downturn started. However, interest rates are likely to stay on hold for quite some time and the ECB president, Mario Draghi, might leave office in October 2019 without having raised rates once during his eight-year term.
Economic growth (GDP)Economic growth (GDP)
Services sectorServices sector
Interest ratesInterest rates
Bank of EnglandBank of England
EconomicsEconomics
Economic policyEconomic policy
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