The S&P Global UK Services PMI rose to 52.8 in August 2026 from 52.1 in July, contrasting with market forecasts of 51.8, flash estimates showed. The data showed the services sector expanded for a second successive month, with the pace of growth accelerating to its steepest since February, amid an improvement in demand conditions. Employment continued to decline, but the rate of job losses was only marginal and the least marked since October 2025. On the price front, service providers faced stronger input cost pressures, driven mainly by higher fuel and transportation costs, alongside rising wages and utility bills.