UK Services PMI fell to 50.5 in March from 53.9, marking the slowest expansion in 11 months.
New business contracted for the first time since November 2025, with the sharpest eight‑month decline in output.
Input price inflation rose to its highest since April 2025, with 40% of firms reporting higher costs while only 2% saw declines.
Business optimism fell to nine‑month low as firms worry about Middle East conflict’s impact on inflation, supply chains and borrowing costs.