•The seasonally adjusted index of services increased by 1.2 per cent in September 2011 compared with September 2010 •Three of the four main service sector components increased in the most recent month compared with the same month a year ago. Distribution, hotels & restaurants was broadly flat •Business services & finance rose by 1.5 per cent in the most recent month compared with the same month a year ago. This was the largest contribution to the increase •Between August 2011 and September 2011, service sector output increased by 0.1 per cent (full story)