Service sector regains ground
The UK service sector appeared to claw back ground in July, as the ONS release figures showing output increased by 1.1%.
The small increase follows a decline of 1.5% in June, as additional bank holidays for the Diamond Jubilee were said to have impacted output.
All key industries within the sector including hotels and restaurants; transport, storage and communication; and business services and finance, registered growth.
Hotels and restaurant showed the biggest rise with 1.8% growth, and business services and finance output was up 1.2%.
Performance in the service sector is a key indicator of economic health, and the news follows this week’s upwards revision of the GDP figure for the second quarter.