The UK private sector registered another increase in activity in March, reflecting robust performance by the service economy, flash survey results from S&P Global showed on Friday. The flash Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply composite output index posted 52.2 in March, down from February's eight-month high of 53.1 and economists' forecast of 52.7. Nonetheless, the reading was above the 50.0 no-change mark.
"The surveys are broadly consistent with GDP growing at only a modest quarterly rate of 0.2%, but this represents a welcome expansion compared to the lack of growth seen in the second half of last year," S&P Global Market Intelligence Chief Business Economist Chris Williamson said.
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May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.