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mpc: 6 A26 Survey data on services output were somewhat weaker. Although the CIPS services activity index had risen in October, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) survey had reported a fall in orders to the service sector, and the Dun & Bradstreet and Institute of Directors surveys had pointed to weaker sales and optimism. BCC survey data for the service sector had shown that the balance of investment intentions remained unchanged at +21 in Q3. A27 The CIPS and BCC surveys had shown a rise in manufacturing orders in Q3. However, the CBI survey had shown a fall. Other surveys, such as those by Dun & Bradstreet and the Institute of Directors, had suggested slowing manufacturing activity in Q4. Both the BCC and the CBI quarterly surveys had shown a pick-up in manufacturing investment intentions in Q3. The BCC survey had reported that the balance of investment intentions in manufacturing had increased to +16 in Q3 from +12 in Q2. The October CBI survey had reported a balance of -18, up from -21 in July.

IV

Labour market

A28 Labour Force Survey (LFS) employment had grown by 80,000 (0.3%) in June to August compared with the previous three months. This growth had been more than accounted for by growth in part-time employment (up by 91,000). This had increased the part-time share by 0.3 percentage points, to 25.1%. A29 The CIPS survey had indicated further expansion in construction and services employment in October, while reductions in manufacturing employment had still outnumbered increases. Measures of employment intentions from the Q3 BCC and CBI (Industrial Trends) surveys had suggested steady employment growth in the coming months, with employment intentions in services in particular remaining strong. A30 Average hours had risen by 0.3% from June to August compared with the previous three months (but were 0.6% down on a year earlier). Average full-time hours had increased by 0.5% while average part-time hours had fallen by 0.3%. Total hours worked had increased by 0.7% in June to August compared to the previous three months. A31 LFS-measured unemployment had fallen by 100,000 in June to August, to 5.3% (down 0.3 percentage points on three months earlier). Most of this fall had been accounted for by a reduction in