Britain’s

services sector grew at its fastest pace for six months in October, but confidence is waning.

New orders helped boost services such as transport, accountancy, hotels and restaurants, a survey by IHS Markit/ CIPS showed. But job creation fell to a seven-month low, and companies are concerned about the year ahead. Services are about 80% of the economy.

A separate survey by the CBI showed growth in business activity unchanged in the three months to October, but lower than analysts had expected.