UK June preliminary services PMI fell to 48.7 from 49.3, the weakest reading
since January 2023 and below all economists in the REUTERS SURVEY, which had
forecast a rise to 50.1. The survey showed sharp declines in employment and new
business, with the new business index at its lowest since January 2021. The
release came a day after Prime Minister Starmer announced his resignation,
underscoring the difficult economic backdrop for incoming PM Andy Burnham,
assuming no other Labor MPs challenge his bid for the premiership.