Services Index Up 2%

The index of services from the ONS for April 2012 was up 2% on April last year. Between March and April 2012 there was no change in the index.

All four components grew in April on the month on a year earlier comparison. Business services and finance rose by 2.1%, transport, storage and communication rose by 4.8%, government and other services grew by 1.3% and distribution, hotels and restaurants grew by 0.9%.

The main upward contributions in the transport, storage and communication sector came from computer programming, consultancy and related activities (8.1%) and telecommunications (9.9%). In business services and finance the main upward contributions came from administrative and support services (6.7%) and other professional services (6.2%).