The S&P Global UK Services PMI was revised lower to 50.5 in March 2026 from a flash estimate of 51.2, down from February's 53.9. The sector saw its slowest expansion in the ongoing 11-month growth streak amid rising global economic uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict. Output rose only slightly, while total new work fell for the first time since November 2025, recording the sharpest contraction in eight months. Export orders also fell sharply, marking the fastest decline since April 2025. Staffing numbers were further reduced, amid a lack of pressure on business capacity, alongside the need to mitigate rising payroll costs. Backlogs remained broadly unchanged despite widespread shipping delays and supply chain disruptions. Input cost inflation picked up to a 11-month high, driven by higher prices paid for fuel, transportation and raw materials. March saw continued positive expectations for business activity, although sentiment eased markedly from January’s 15-month high. source: S&P Global

Services PMI in the United Kingdom decreased to 50.50 points in March from 53.90 points in February of 2026. Services PMI in the United Kingdom averaged 53.11 points from 2007 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 62.90 points in May of 2021 and a record low of 13.40 points in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Services PMI - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Services PMI in the United Kingdom decreased to 50.50 points in March from 53.90 points in February of 2026. Services PMI in the United Kingdom is expected to be 51.90 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Services PMI is projected to trend around 53.00 points in 2027 and 52.80 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



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United Kingdom Services PMI
The S&P Global/CIPS UK Services PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index) is based on data collected from companies in the transport and communication sector, financial intermediation, business services, personal services, computing and IT and hotels and restaurants. The index tracks variables such as sales, employment, inventories and prices. A reading above 50 indicates that the services sector is generally expanding; below 50 indicates that it is generally declining. This is only a limited sample of PMI headline data displayed on the Customer’s service, under licence from S&P Global. Full historic PMI headline data and all other PMI sub-index data and histories are available on subscription from S&P Global. Contact economics@spglobal.com for more details.

News Stream
UK Services Activity Growth Revised Lower
The S&P Global UK Services PMI was revised lower to 50.5 in March 2026 from a flash estimate of 51.2, down from February's 53.9. The sector saw its slowest expansion in the ongoing 11-month growth streak amid rising global economic uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict. Output rose only slightly, while total new work fell for the first time since November 2025, recording the sharpest contraction in eight months. Export orders also fell sharply, marking the fastest decline since April 2025. Staffing numbers were further reduced, amid a lack of pressure on business capacity, alongside the need to mitigate rising payroll costs. Backlogs remained broadly unchanged despite widespread shipping delays and supply chain disruptions. Input cost inflation picked up to a 11-month high, driven by higher prices paid for fuel, transportation and raw materials. March saw continued positive expectations for business activity, although sentiment eased markedly from January’s 15-month high.
2026-04-07
UK Services Activity Growth at 6-Month Low
The S&P Global UK Services PMI fell to 51.2 in March of 2026 from 53.9 in the previous month, firmly below market expectations that it would ease to 53 to mark the softest pace of expansion since September of last year, according to a flash estimate. New work for service providers slowed amid pressure from the fastest decline in orders from abroad in nearly one year, with foreign clients citing the postponement of new projects in the Middle East and the reduction of international travel. In the meantime, service providers noted a sharp increase in average cost burdens, also related to halted shipping routes from the war in the Middle East. The squeezed margins and softer orders growth drove companies to lower their hiring pace. Lastly, the continued geopolitical risks from the war pressed optimism for service providers.
2026-03-24
UK Services Activity Stays Firmly in Expansion Territory
The S&P Global UK Services PMI was confirmed at 53.9 in February 2026, just below January’s 54 five-month high. Growth was supported by gradually improving client confidence and the release of pent-up demand, though conditions remained challenging in sectors such as leisure, hospitality, and construction. New business increased for a third straight month, driven mainly by domestic demand, while export growth nearly stalled amid weak European conditions. Backlogs were broadly stable, as higher new orders were offset by productivity gains and tech investment that reduced the need for extra hiring. Employment fell for the seventeenth consecutive month, reflecting hiring freezes and cost pressures. Input prices rose sharply, largely due to higher wages and supplier costs, and firms passed these on through robust price increases. Despite slightly easing optimism, around half of firms expect output to rise over the next year.
2026-03-04