The fortunes of the hospitality industry are now looking as gloomy as during the Covid lockdowns.
Output in the sector, which includes pubs, hotels and restaurants, declined at the fastest pace since February 2021, when the UK was last in lockdown.
The Lloyds Bank UK Recovery Tracker gave a score of 36.3 for September, with demand falling for a fourth consecutive month. Any reading below 50 indicates contraction.