UK private sector output expanded for the second month running in December, which continued a modest recovery from the downturn seen during the three months to October. Higher levels of business activity were supported by a renewed improvement in order books, alongside efforts to work through post-pandemic backlogs. At 51.7 in December, up from 50.7 in November, the headline seasonally adjusted S&P Global / CIPS Flash UK PMI Composite Output Index pointed to the fastest rise in private sector business activity since June. However, the latest index reading remained weaker than the long-run survey average (53.6) and ... (full story)