UK service providers reported a strong rebound in business conditions during March, with activity, new orders and employment all picking up since the previous month. Renewed job creation in March represented the first overall expansion of staffing numbers across the service sector since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The forthcoming easing of government stringency measures also contributed to another improvement in business expectations for the year ahead. Around 66% of the survey panel forecast an increase in activity over this period, while only 8% predict a fall. This signalled the ... (full story)