BUSINESS conditions in the UK services sector remain testing, a survey by the CBI said today.

Both consumer services and business and professional services reported further falls in business volumes and values in the three months to August – against expectations that growth would turn positive.

The latest quarterly CBI Service Sector Survey found that firms in consumer services reported volumes and values falling at a similar pace to the previous quarter, while optimism regarding the business situation was significantly lower than three months ago.

Business activity is expected to see little change over the next three months, the survey said.