The latest PMI® survey data from IHS Markit and CIPS signalled that the dominant UK service sector moved up a gear at the start of the final quarter of 2016. The rate of growth of total business activity accelerated to the fastest since January, as did new business expansion. The sector continued to generate more jobs, albeit at a weaker rate than the average seen over the past three years. Latest data also revealed a marked build up of inflationary pressures in the sector, linked to the weak pound. The survey’s headline figure is the seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS Services PMI Business Activity Index, a ... (full story)