The UK service sector continued to expand strongly as 2013 came to an end, with activity, new business and employment all again rising at marked rates. These positive trends helped bolster business expectations, with confidence amongst service providers at its highest in nearly four years. After accounting for seasonal factors, the headline Business Activity Index registered a level of 58.8. That was down from 60.0 in November and a six-month low, but nonetheless signalled a historically strong rate of expansion. Moreover, growth of activity has been continuously recorded throughout 2013. Providing the primary ... (full story)