UK services unexpectedly pick up speed in June, survey shows

The Purchasing Managers’ Index hit 55.1, up from 54 in May. Any figure above 50 indicates growth.

The services PMI covers hotels and restaurants (PA)

The UK’s services sector unexpectedly picked up speed in June according to the latest survey snapshot of the sector, raising the possibility of an August rate hike by the Bank of England.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index hit 55.1, up from 54 in May. Any figure above 50 indicates growth.

City of London analysts had expected it to show no change.

Services account for around 80 per cent of the UK economy and analysts said the most recent surveys were consistent, on historical trends, with overall GDP growth picking up to around 0.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2018.

The services PMI covers hotels and restaurants, transport, finance and IT, although not the retail sector.

“Stronger growth of service sector activity adds to signs that the economy rebounded in the second quarter and opens the door for an August rate hike,” said Chris Williamson of IHS Markit, which compiles the survey.

“It remains encouraging yet also surprising that current business activity continues to show such resilience amid relatively moribund confidence regarding the year ahead outlook.”

Growth was just 0.2 per cent in the first quarter according to the latest official data.

The Bank of England has judged that the growth slump reflects the temporary impact of major snowstorms in February and March, but the Office for National Statistics had detected signs of an underlying slowdown.

The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee held off from raising interest rates in May, but three members of the nine person committee voted to put up the cost of borrowing in June, raising the chances of a majority opting for a hike in August, when it next meets.

Sterling rose to $1.3193 in the immediate wake of the data, although it was still flat on the day.

But some economists were more sceptical.

“The survey is not always a reliable indicator for the official activity data which will ultimately determine the Committee’s next step,” said Samuel Tombs of Pantheon.

“Since 1998, the PMI’s forecast for the preliminary estimate of GDP growth has been wrong by 0.25pp on average...It would be premature to conclude that an August rate hike is likely until the first monthly estimate of GDP for May is published next week.”

The ONS is in the process of shifting from its traditional process of publishing quarter on quarter GDP growth estimates to the release of a new monthly series.