Growth in the private sector edged closer to stagnation this month.
The latest S&P Global/CIPS flash composite Purchasing Managers’ Index dropped to 50.9 in August from 52.1 in July, its lowest since February 2021 and close to the 50 level that separates growth from contraction.
The manufacturing sector is already contracting, falling from 52.1 to 46. The services sector is still in growth, but this has weakened, edging down from 52.6 to 52.5.