January data from the IHS Markit / CIPS Flash UK Composite PMI® highlighted a decisive change of direction for the private sector economy at the start of 2020. Business activity expanded for the first time in five months, driven by the sharpest increase in new work since September 2018. The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit / CIPS Flash UK Composite Output Index – which is based on approximately 85% of usual monthly replies – rose to 52.4 in January, from 49.3 in December. As a result, the headline index registered above the crucial 50.0 no-change mark for the first time since August 2019. The latest reading was the ... (full story)