British services grow

Digest opened free editor

Rola Khaleda, FT editor, chooses her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.

The services helped to pay out the private sector in the United Kingdom to grow more than expected in March, at the fastest pace in six months, which led to a positive observation of the government before the spring statement on Wednesday.

The initial reading of the UK’s S&P Procurement Manager Index, a measure of private sector health, increased to 52 in March, from 50.5 in February and the highest in six months.

It was much higher than 50, which separates growth and shrinkage, and higher than 50.3 expectations by Reuters economists.

“The increase in commercial activity in March brings some good news to the government before the counselor Spring statementProviding a period of a break from the last flow of economic data mostly. “

However, he pointed out that the improvement was driven by “only small pockets from growthEspecially in financial services, while continuing companies and manufacturers facing the consumer in fighting economic opposite winds at home and abroad.