Key findings:

• Moderate rise in business activity during October
• New work increases at slowest pace since July 2016
• Strong input cost inflation continues

Data collected October 12-29

UK service providers signalled another increase in business activity during October, but the rate of expansion eased to its weakest since the snow-related soft patch seen in March. The loss of momentum largely reflected more cautious spending patterns among clients, as highlighted by the weakest upturn in new work since July 2016.

Higher fuel bills and salary payments meanwhile contributed to the fastest rise in average cost burdens since June. Intense pressure on operating margins persisted in October, despite the rate of prices charged inflation picking up slightly from September’s 15-month low.

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Services PMI ^® Business Activity Index dropped to 52.2 in October from 53.9 in September, to signal the slowest rate of business activity expansion since March. The headline index has posted above the 50.0 no-change value in each of the past 27 months, but the latest reading was the second-lowest since July 2016. Survey respondents noted that heightened economic uncertainty and a soft patch for new work had held back business activity growth.

New business growth moderated for the third time in the past four months during October. Moreover, the latest rise in new work was only modest and the weakest recorded since July 2016. A number of firms noted that Brexit-related uncertainty and concerns about the global economic outlook had constrained demand growth for business services. Some survey respondents also commented on subdued consumer spending in October. Consumer-facing sectors such as hotels, restaurants and leisure reported the weakest performance.

Slower new business growth helped to alleviate pressures on operating capacity during October. This was highlighted by a reduction in backlogs of work for the first time since April. Meanwhile, a moderate rate of job creation continued across the service sector. Anecdotal evidence suggested that a lack of suitably skilled candidates to fill vacancies had held back employment growth.

October data pointed to another sharp increase in input prices, which was mainly linked to higher transport costs and rising staff wages. Survey respondents also cited increasing prices for items sourced from abroad, which was linked to the weak sterling exchange rate. Higher operating expenses led to the fastest rise in prices charged by service sector firms since June.

Looking ahead, the latest survey indicated a moderation in confidence about the outlook for business activity growth. The degree of positive sentiment about the year ahead was the weakest since July 2016. While some firms reported improved optimism on the basis that business investment and client confidence would likely pick up in response to clarity about Brexit outcomes, many others saw a deepening malaise due to Brexit-related disruptions and wider concerns about the general economic outlook.

Comments

Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit , which compiles the survey:

“The disappointing server sector numbers bring mounting evidence that Brexit worries are taking an increasing toll on the economy. Combined with the manufacturing and construction surveys, the October services PMI points to the economy growing at a quarterly rate of just 0.2%, setting the scene for GDP growth to weaken sharply in the fourth quarter.

“However, while it is not surprising to see that Brexit uncertainties are increasingly undermining business activity at this stage of the negotiations, the survey responses also suggest that the economy is facing other headwinds, including a broader global slowdown, trade wars, heightened geopolitical uncertainty and tightening financial market conditions.

“It therefore remains unclear as to the extent to which Brexit worries are exacerbating or obfuscating a more broad-based slowing of the economy, which would have important implications for policymaking.”

Duncan Brock , Group Director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply , said:

“A reluctance to commit was the message coming through loud and clear from service providers in October as the sector checked in with its worst performance since March and lowest optimism since July 2016.

“Many of the respondents attributed this poor performance and the biggest softening in new order growth since July 2016 to continuing ambiguity around the Brexit negotiations. There were also concerns over the weakness in the UK and global economies which affected client confidence and consumer spending.

“To add to these burdens, costs were also on the rise, fuelled by higher salary and energy prices. Skilled staff availability was thin on the ground though hiring continued. Businesses were forced to increase their own prices even amidst strong competition, and a squeeze on margins in the next few challenging months could put the brakes on hiring.

“Clarity around Brexit may turn this around but time is running out and this downward slide should be a wake-up call that progress must be made now.”

– Ends –

For data queries, please call:

IHS Markit
Joanna Vickers
Tel: +44 207 260 2234
Email: joanna.vickers@ihsmarkit.com

For industry comments, please call:

CIPS
Trudy Salandiak
Tel: +44 1780 761576
Email: trudy.salandiak@cips.org