Britain is bouncing back from an economic blip in the early months of 2017, with new surveys raising hopes that the much-feared slowdown has not yet arrived.

The dominant services sector grew last month at its fastest pace so far this year and outpacing much of the growth seen in 2016.

The services sector purchasing managers’ index (PMI) from IHS Markit rose to 55.8 in April, up from 55 in March. Any score of above 50 indicates the sector is growing.

“The level is consistent, on the basis of past form, with quarterly services sector growth of around 0.7pc – well above the 0.3pc rate seen in the first quarter,” said Scott Bowman at Capital Economics.