LONDON (Reuters) -British businesses are having their strongest month in a year thanks to a rebound in the dominant services sector, according to a survey published on Thursday.

The preliminary reading of the S&P Global UK Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for August is likely to be welcome news for finance minister Rachel Reeves, but its suggestion of stronger inflation pressure might worry the Bank of England.

The PMI, covering manufacturing as well as services, picked up to 53.0 – its highest since August last year – from a final reading of 51.5 in July.

A Reuters poll had forecast only a small increase to 51.6.

Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said the survey suggested the pace of economic growth had accelerated over the summer

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