Economics
U.K. Activity Accelerates as Firms Prepare for Lockdown Lifting
Pedestrians walk along the south bank of the River Thames in London, on March 22.
Photographer: Jason Alden/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
U.K. business activity increased at the fastest pace since August this month as new orders and confidence rebounded in anticipation of easing lockdown restrictions.
IHS Markit’s flash composite Purchasing Managers Index climbed to 56.6 in March, beating economist estimates and registering above the critical 50 mark that indicates expansion for the first time this year. Services activity outpaced manufacturing production growth for the first time since the start of the pandemic, separate gauges showed.