British economy steeply steps down in the beginning of 2018

In January, the UK economy stepped down abruptly. That’s what a poll uncovered, casting doubt on soaring hopes among market participants that the country’s key bank might be about to have interest rates increased once again in the nearer future.

The IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index for Britain’s dominant services sector stepped down to a 16-month minimum of 53.0 from December’s reading of 54.2.

The result turned to be at the bottom end of a variety of estimates in a Reuters survey of market experts and looked probably to extend the gap between the country’s slow-ascending economy as it moves to Brexit and other countries deriving benefits from a bounce-back in global surge.

Combined with the previous week's weaker-than-anticipated polls for the manufacturing as well as construction industries, Monday's report hinted that the previous month the world's number six economy ascended at its slowest pace since 2016.

Businesses reported the non-renewal of their finished contracts, the loss of existing customers, unfavorable weather and also uncertainty as for the outcome of the Brexit talks that face Theresa May in 2018.

In spite of the fact new work was flowing faster than the previous month, it turned to be below the average for last year.

With the poll also disclosing weaker upward price pressures, therefore the data generates doubts on any upcoming soar in interest rates.

On Thursday, the Bank of England is anticipated to uncover fresh economic estimates and market participants are looking for any hints that it’s heading for a rate lift in the nearer months, right after it stepped up borrowing costs in November, for the first time for a decade.

The UK economy soared faster than anticipated at the end of the previous year, while financial markets have put a 50-50 likelihood on another rate lift already in May.