July PMI® data compiled by IHS Markit and CIPS signalled a sharp slowdown in business activity growth across the UK private sector. The speed of recovery was the weakest since March, with survey respondents widely reporting staff and raw material shortages due to the pandemic. Concerns about the loss of momentum contributed to the lowest degree of optimism towards the business outlook for nine months. At 57.7 in July, the headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit / CIPS Flash UK Composite Output Index registered above the 50.0 nochange value for the fifth consecutive month. However, the latest reading was down from ... (full story)