DATA SNAP: UK July Services PMI 53.2 Vs 51.6 In June

DATA SNAP: UK July Services PMI 53.2 Vs 51.6 In June
By Ilona Billington
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
LONDON (Dow Jones)--The U.K.'s dominant services sector expanded for the second straight month in July, with the Purchasing Managers Index for the sector rising to a 17-month high. Research group Markit Economics and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Wednesday said the services PMI rose to 53.2 in July from 51.6 in June. The size of the increase came as a surprise as economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires last week had forecast the PMI would increase to just 52.0. A reading above 50.0 indicates the sector is expanding, while a reading below 50.0 indicates it is contracting. -By Ilona Billington and Nicholas Winning, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 20 7842 9452; ilona.billington@dowjones.com Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today's most important business and market news, analysis and commentary: http://www.djnewsplus.com/access/al?rnd=py6XKysBWxRFQBX8LswcYA%3D%3D. You can use this link on the day this article is published and the following day. (END) Dow Jones NewswiresAugust 05, 2009 04:39 ET (08:39 GMT)Copyright 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc