The following is an unedited transcript of the news release from the UK National Statistics.


Services output rose by 0.5 per cent in the three months to January compared with the three months to October. This was the smallest three months on previous three months increase since May 2005 (when output also increased by 0.5 per cent). The increase in the latest period was driven by business services and finance; government and other services; and transport, storage and communication.

Distribution remained unchanged in the three months to January. Increases in retail and wholesale were offset by a fall in the motor trades.

Hotels and restaurants output fell by 1.4 per cent in the three months to January. This was the largest three months on previous three months fall since July 2002 (when output fell by 1.5 per cent). The most significant decreases in the latest period were in licensed restaurants and public houses and bars.

Transport, storage and communication output rose by 1.2 per cent in the three months to January. The most significant increases were in land transport and post and telecommunications.

Business services and finance output rose by 0.7 per cent in the three months to January. The most significant increase was in other business services (which includes legal services and industrial cleaning). There was a decrease in computer services.

Government and other services output rose by 0.5 per cent in the three months to January. Health and social work and recreation were the most significant contributors to the increase.

Services output between December and January increased by 0.6 per cent. All five components increased in output. The most significant increase was in distribution.


Available at:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=558