U.K. Services Growth Unexpectedly Slows on Wet Weather: Economy

U.K. services grew at the slowest pace in seven months in January as new business cooled and wet weather soaked the country.

An index based on a survey of purchasing managers declined to 58.3 from 58.8 in December, Markit Economics said in a report today in London. The median of 32 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey was for an increase to 59. Services in the euro area grew at a slower pace than initially estimated and retail sales slid, separate reports showed, underlining the fragility of the region’s recovery.