Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Phillip Inman

UK services sector shrinks for first time in 17 months amid Trump tariff fears

City skyline of London at sunset
The services sector accounts for about three-quarters of the UK economy. Photograph: Shomos Uddin/Getty Images

A 17-month period of expansion in the UK’s services sector came to an abrupt end in April as uncertainty created by Donald Trump’s tariff war hit new orders and exports.

A poll of purchasing managers in services businesses showed that the US president’s tariff campaign had sent a chill through the sector, which accounts for about three-quarters of the UK economy, hitting business confidence about the prospects for the years ahead.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.