Britain's private sector output growth accelerated in August, with the sustained increase in service sector business activity offsetting a slowdown in manufacturing production, flash data from S&P Global showed Friday.
The flash UK PMI Composite Output Index hit a four-month high of 52.5 in August, compared with 52.2 in the previous month and the consensus of 51.6.
Meanwhile, the manufacturing PMI declined to a five-month low of 51.5 from the prior 51.9 and the expected 51.6. On the services side, the PMI came in at 52.8, against the previous 52.1 and the market forecast of 51.8.