The underlying performance of the UK service sector remained positive in April, with activity, new business and employment all recording growth. Expectations also remained positive, reaching a twenty-five month high, although margins were again under pressure – input costs rose to the strongest degree in three months but output charges were little changed compared to March. The headline index from the survey, the Business Activity Index – which is based on a single question asking respondents to report on the actual change in business activity at their companies compared to one month ago – posted 53.3 in April. ... (full story)