Election jitters, consumer squeeze hit UK services

London

BRITAIN'S services sector grew less than expected and car sales dropped last month, as businesses and consumers put off big decisions before this week's national election, dampening expectations of a strong rebound from a weak first quarter.

British economic growth slowed to just 0.2 per cent in the first three months of this year - the weakest among the world's top advanced economies - as the cost of the pound's fall following last year's Brexit vote caught up with consumers.

Many economists have said that they expect growth in the current quarter to partially rebound to around 0.4 or 0.5 per cent, but some said that weakness in Monday's services purchasing managers' index (PMI) made thi…